Carelessness and recklessness can be... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
Proverbs 1:32

Carelessness and recklessness can be dangerous, even fatal!

Madame Pele was a sailing yacht that had recently changed owners. She was anchored in Kappeln on the Baltic Sea and was now to be transferred to Emden. The new owner was in possession of a sailing licence but otherwise had hardly any sailing experience. At first he looked for an experienced crew member but unfortunately this was in vain. Then he sought expert advice for his transfer trip on internet forums. Madame Pele set sail on August 18, 2004, with the new owner and an admittedly inexperienced fellow sailor. On August 26 she left the harbour of Norderney and was seen once more north of the Juist Reef, then nothing more was heard of her. Three days later, the water police sighted the yacht’s mast sticking out of the water. During the subsequent search operation, both sailors were found. They had drowned.

Witnesses stated that the owner was overwhelmed with the boat at even low wind speeds. He was obviously under time pressure and had not taken enough diesel with him. And he was unable to operate the sails on his own in the rough seas that prevailed. This recklessness killed both sailors.

Yes, I too am often overwhelmed in my life, under time and performance pressures and at my limits. If I’m honest, I have to say that I can’t manage on my own! Because I don’t want to be reckless, I have entrusted myself to a competent helper. Even now there are still problems that come my way, but I can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what can a man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:6

Today’s reading: Genesis 47:27-48:7 · Psalms 34:12-22