The Cost

Christ in the Desert Monastery, New Mexico

Photograph by Jeffrey Louden

The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call "life" which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.

Henry David Thoreau


Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 


Mark 8