What is the cost of Ministry?

In the synoptic Gospels, Jesus is record as making a statement about the cost of discipleship.  Each of the Gospels have a slightly different take on it, but the jist of it is this: the cost of doing ministry is great.  Sometimes you will have to sacrifice even the things that are most important to you "for my [Christ's] sake and the sake of the gospel's" (Mark 10:29-30).

During my journey towards becoming who God has called me to be, I am continually faced with the challenge of how much it is going to cost.  If the cost were just money, I have proven that I am willing to pay that cost.  But, this journey has cost and probably will cost me more than that.  It's cost me relationships, ideas about the way things should be, the stability of a defined worldview.  Yet, the rewards of seeing people develop a real and intimate relationship with God, seeing them overcome challenges and conquer obstacles, watching them experience the power of God and the power of themselves, these rewards mean more than anything I can sacrifice.

By the same token, every sacrifice that I have made and will make in the future hurts.  It leaves emotional scars, imprints of wounds and residue of pain.  Though I understand that a sacrifice, by definition, hurts, it does not make it easier.

This subject came up in a conversation last night.  Today, watched the movie "Freedom Writers" and it reinvigorate the reflection.  I am left with the question, "How much sacrifice is necessary to be who God has called me to be?"