price.

I've been in a number of price conversations in a number of arenas including business, church, psychology and more. 

But you'll often hear this: we determine the value of something based on price. There is a pretty well known story about some turquoise that wasn't selling so the shop owner left a note for a worker to lower the price. The worker misunderstood and raised the price. The stuff sold out over the weekend. 

The $75 dollar bottle of wine must be better. 

Which brings us to the idea of free. 

A free hour of coffee, a band, and a speaker can't be that good. It's free. (It's also church.) 

But, more importantly, since we're obsessed with this concept of price determining value, what kind of religion would be centered around something free? You're right, none of them. Of course, there is a price and a cost and something must be paid! (Yes I include Christianity - it talks a good game but it doesn't mean it.) 

Because if there is no cost, well... then how much can it be worth? 

And maybe that is the true cost of enlightenment, spirituality, etc...

The cost of accepting that the best life can come from something that costs nothing.

But, I think that might be the greatest cost there is.