by Joanie Butman
The generation of greats on my husband’s side are now teenagers. During their visit this summer they kept me entertained with tales from camp and filled me in on the youth social scene. A lot has changed since my teens, making those formative years even more challenging. Even so, there are some rites of passage that we all do our best to muddle through.
The best was the ICK list they composed at camp with the input of their cabin mates. It’s a lengthy compilation of offensive traits you want to avoid in choosing potential dates. For example:
bad decisions making
criminal activity
lying
disrespectful
lack of style
Sounds eerily similar to some of the bad boys I had the poor judgment to date. What can I say? I had a very low bar back then. I got more discerning with age.
The girls balanced their ICK list with an IT list, enumerating admirable qualities in the opposite sex. I can’t explain what ‘IT’ is, but most people recognize it when they see it. The term was coined in the 1920’s by British novelist, Elinor Glyn. She explains, “With It, you win all men if you are a woman and all women if you are a man. It can be a quality of the mind as well as a physical attraction.” Based on the number of times Miles Teller was noted, he is currently the epitome of the term in their eyes.
Teller is a tough act to follow, but I noticed one boy’s name also made it on the IT list a number of times – high praise for sure. It made me want to meet him. Personally, when I was a teen I lived in fear of seeing my name on someone’s ICK list in big, bold letters. I didn’t have the chutzpa to even dream of making anyone’s IT list.
Let’s face it, as humans our sinful nature guarantees our position on God’s ICK list. Blessedly, Jesus saves us from that fate by clothing all our ‘ickiness’ with His grace, elevating us to a permanent position on God’s IT list. Unlike the insecurity that plagues many teens, our salvation and place in Heaven is assured. We, along with St. Paul, can say with conviction, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). That is the Good News of the Gospel.
Jesus’ work on the cross doesn’t negate the fact that we will continue to do ‘icky’ things. However, His love for us trumps any bad behavior on our part. His death and resurrection provide redemption for anyone who seeks it. He is ready, willing and able to offer absolution when we choose to humbly admit our failings.
What ‘ickiness’ will you choose to surrender to Christ today?