I’ve lived long enough to have my share of awkward moments, as any of you probably have. I think you really haven’t passed the initation into true adulthood until you’ve had at least one really awkward moment of your own doing.

I remember one from when I was a kid. I remember my sister used to take ballet and I would wait outside. This one time, I decided to race her to the car. So when I saw her I took off running and got to the car and sat down. Then I looked around. I thought, “Hey, this isn’t our car. This isn’t my sister.” I had raced someone I didn’t even know and gotten into a strange car. I think that qualifies as a shared awkward moment for both me and for them.

There was also my storied tap dancing career which lasted all of one awkward dance recital. The legacy of Fred Astaire is safe for now, at least for me.

I think the key to those awkward moments is to learn to laugh at yourself and to realize that those are not your defining moments. Life goes on after awkward moments. It really does. Trust me on that.

And I think grace isn’t just for the really bad and really stupid stuff. It’s for awkward stuff that you wish you could take back the moment it happens. Grace isn’t just for the other person. Sometimes you need to extend grace to yourself, too.

Let’s just say that  the extent of my dancing is watching old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies. I tried the ballroom dancing thing, but my problem was I never knew which of my two left feet to lead off with. One day, I will trying again and pray for the miracle of grace and better coordination.

So, hooray for the awkward moments. They keep us humble and remind us of how much we still need God and each other. And thankful for grace.