The price we pay

Everything has a price, or more accurately, a cost. Do you ever think about that? I rarely do, and it often gets me into trouble, particularly when the costs come at different times, so one thing seems way cheaper than another.

Easy example: credit cards.
Buy now, pay later. The cost of the item hasn't changed from cash, it's just shifted in time plus there's the very real potential additional cost (interest, late charges, etc.) and the hidden cost of processing.

Harder example: fast food.
Eat now, get fat later. A little less clear here. I can pay now in money (fast food is cheap, alternatives being more expensive), inconvenience (my fridge doesn't have a drive-through) and sacrifice (fast food is yummy).

Hardest example: time.
It's running out. It doesn't matter what you're buying or eating, time is ticking away at about 60 seconds per minute, and the end is nearer now than it's ever been. So what choice will I make now? Blog, play with kids, read, play Wesnoth, watch a movie, call a friend? Some of those things are easy. Some take effort. So writing a thoughtful blog post seems more expensive than watching TV. But...

The cost is not only the effort involved. It is also the loss of being able to do anything else with that time...ever. In economics, that's sometimes called an opportunity cost. And while my choice to watch TV right now isn't a big deal, making that choice again and again means that I've given up many hours of learning, thinking, praying, serving, loving, and living. That can get really expensive.

I am by nature a lazy man. But when I think about the full price I pay...maybe I will get off the couch.