Some years ago police in Helsinki booked Finland’s so called ‘sausage king,’ Jussi Salonoja, for speeding. It wasn’t the first time he’d been caught. He’d already copped a heavy fine for cruising the highway at two hundred kilometres per hour. Finland’s judges have little tolerance for speeding and they scale traffic fines to the income of the violator. Consequently, multi-millionaire Salonoja’s fine set a new national record at one hundred and seventy thousand euros; or about two hundred and seventy seven thousand Australian dollars.
It reminds me of something Jesus said about God’s standard of judgement: “Unto whom much has been given, much will be required.” For we who are amongst the most privilaged of any generation that’s a sobering thought.