What happens when one of the world's richest men meets an unknown snow-plow operator at an airport?
Well, we found out this week.
On Monday, the Chief C.E.O. of the French energy giant, Total, was taking off in his private jet from Moscow.
Christophe de Margerie had just signed a lucrative energy contract with the Russian government and was headed back to Paris. He was the only passenger on his jet, manned by a crew of three.
As the plane accelerated in take-off a snow-plow, operated by Vladimir Martynenko, suddenly appeared on the runway. There was an horrific crash, followed by a fire-ball as all four men in the jet met their fate.
Martynenko survived to tell his story which was a sad tale.
He had been drinking and was driving his plow on the wrong runway having lost direction.
The words of Jesus come to mind.
"What shall it profit a man if shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Martynenko has exchanged his seat on his snow-plow for a seat in a Moscow prison cell, but what of the man he sent to Eternity?
We don't know, but everyone of us must answer the question of our soul's salvation personally, for we never know the moment it will be required of us.
Au Revoir.
Ian
