Such a moment occurred when I fell down the stairs a few weeks ago. Let me explain.

It was my own fault, I suppose. I had just received my new “Project Launch” mug and was headed down to the coffee shop with a student to the first of countless free refills. Nestled inside the mug was the obligatory sheet full of dire warnings, carefully crafted to keep me from suing the manufacturer of the mug (just in case I didn’t realize that coffee was, in fact, a hot beverage). I was actually so amused by the warning brochure that I started to read it out loud to the student who was walking down the stairs with me … and I was paying no attention, whatsoever, to the business of going from step to step.

Mid-sentence I suddenly found myself taking a giant step into nothingness — a journey that ended with me sprawled on the landing halfway down the curved steps in the Corum, sensing a new, rather insistent pain in my right ankle. One clear thought popped into my mind.

“If it’s funny later, it’s funny now.”

Okay, I understand that it may not have been the eloquent pearl that you were hoping for. But trust me, that simple phrase has rescued me from some potentially frustrating, occasionally embarrassing, and frequently stressful situations. The premise is simple. Most situations, even if insanely awkward at the time, can be redeemed if you remind yourself that, viewed through the lens of a little time, you might find that very same situation pretty hilarious.

There’s nothing inherently biblical about the phrase (although I did first hear it from Bishop Joseph Garlington at a pastor’s conference). However, I do believe that it can draw us back to appropriate humility, reminding us that while it’s important to demonstrate appropriate reverence, respect, and even fear of God, we don’t need to take ourselves quite so seriously. It’s a perspective shaper. We don’t need to carefully massage or tweak our image, trying to pretend that we’ve never had an awkward moment or an embarrassing slip. We’re hilariously human … and deeply loved by our Father!

I’ve shared the phrase with every overseas team that I’ve led. It’s helped team members to cope with rudimentary or non-existent bathroom facilities, interesting and sometimes downright scary meals (”This piece of beef seems to have an eyebrow on it…”), missing luggage, and timetables that go out the window. It’s not an excuse to be rude, culturally insensitive, or flippant, but it does grant permission to redeem a difficult situation with a little well-timed humor.

So even as I picked myself up, dusted off my now slightly-dented mug and started limping down the stairs to get my cup of coffee, I was already chuckling at the two life lessons that were reinforced that morning.

Number one, warning labels are dangerous.

Number two, if it’s funny later, it’s funny now.