Drunks and Fools

God looks after drunks and fools — Otto Van Bismarck

I heard the above in many contexts, but I never knew that it might have been Otto Van Bismarck who originated the quote. The quote usually relates to reckless behavior by young people who do something stupid because they think they are immune. However, I don’t think an immunity complex is limited to the young, I know lots of folks who believe bad things can never happen to them — until it does.

I was thinking about this phrase during my morning meditation when I was trying to get over a thoughtless act by a friend. He had unnecessarily exposed himself to the virus, and consequently had exposed others when he didn’t tell anyone he had done so. I’ve had to work my way through his behavior ultimately hoping that God would take care of the careless and those he potentially exposed.

I had to remind myself about my own faults and negligence and remember the unforeseen consequences. We may not all be “drunks and fools” but we all do things we shouldn’t without thought about who our reckless behavior affects. Thank goodness God usually takes care of us, but more importantly forgives us. So must we.

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About the author

Webb Hubbell is the former Associate Attorney General of The United States. His novels, When Men Betray, Ginger Snaps, A Game of Inches, The Eighteenth Green, and The East End are published by Beaufort Books and are available online or at your local bookstore. When Men Betray won one of the IndieFab awards for best novel in 2014. Ginger Snaps and The Eighteenth Green won the IPPY Awards Gold Medal for best suspense/thriller. His latest, “Light of Day” will be on the bookstands soon.