Long before I moved to Los Angeles, I lived here in my imagination.  I took up imaginary (perhaps visionary or prophetic are better ways of expressing it) residence in Los Angles when i was 10.  That year the Los Angeles Lakers played the Philadelphia 76 Sixers in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals. My father, my two brothers and I watched the game together in our living room at 311 Grand Avenue, in Freeport, New York, 11520. I still remember sitting on the rust colored sofa covered with plastic.

My father was a fan of Kareem Abdul Jabbar of the Lakers. My brother Jonathan was a fan of Julius Erving, more famously known as “Dr. J of the Sixers.  However, I was a fan of Pat Riley, the head coach of the Lakers. Until then, I had never seen such a cool caucasian, and I was mesmerized by his mien. I loved how he  furiously paced the sidelines: armed folded, hair slicked back, a spread collared shirt, in a black suit draped impeccably across his slender but athletic frame.  It was in his honor that I decided to get a job and immediately began saving money. I promised myself that one day, I would purchase the exact suit that I saw Pat Riley wear.

Years later. after having done my research and saving my money, I took the train to New York City and walked into the doors of the Giorgio Armani store, which at the time was located at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street in Manhattan. I told them that I wanted a suit like the one that Mr. Armani made for Pat Riley. In retrospect, I can only imagine how absolutely hilarious the entire scene must have been to salesperson who assisted me. But to his credit, while he eyed me curiously, he did take me seriously. I was escorted upstairs to the couture section. I tried on the suit. I loved it.  I decided to buy it. However, there was one problem--i didn't see the price tag. Only then did the sales clerk snicker. Then he said in a condescending tone that is seared on my psyche, “young man, the price tag is behind the lapel.” When I looked behind the lapel and saw the price tag, I realized that I was a few thousand dollars short.  I knew the suit was going to cost. But up to that point in my life, I never knew that a suit could cost that much. Or that someone would be willing to pay that much! Alas, my reach had exceeded my grasp.

I didn't walk out of the store with the suit. But i did walk out with a lesson that has lasted a lifetime.  I learned that just because you don't see the price tag, it doesn't mean it isn't there. Everything has a price tag. And sometimes the price tag is somewhere you least expect. And often, the price tag is hidden. In fact, many retail establishments have perfected the art hiding the true cost.  But this is where the business of salvation is so different from the business of sales.  Jesus does not hide the cost of being a disciple.  You don’t have to wonder, guess, or ask.  Listen to to what he said on one occasion, recorded in Luke 14:27-34.

And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”

This is not exactly good marketing, Or is it?