Swiss Cheese

A ten week summer hosting with a young teenage girl from Ukraine taught me many valuable lessons. God prompted the visit. He was with us during the visit and God continues after we said our farewell or in this case, until we meet again. Even though she was returning to her homeland, she had become a part of our family unit. Above all, she had become a part of the body of believers.

The last week of our hosting adventure brought about some extreme and heightened responses from the new member of our family. They became so drastic and outside the lines that I felt it was necessary to contact the hosting agency. I was promptly reassured that others were calling in on this last week of their stay. It was summarized that the bizarre acting out was a way of making us dislike them. This way, it would be easier for them to leave their new found love. It was time for unconditional love. They referred to them as, “Swiss Cheese Kids” and in the next breath explained, that we are all really Swiss cheese. I must admit, this analogy has helped me sit in my church pew with a bit more comfort. There always seems to be that sense of security when we know we are not alone.

I often think of the stack of Swiss cheese that has been neatly sliced from the deli counter. As you peel away the slices each hole does not match the other holes in the adjacent slice but each contains their very own unique pattern of holes. Yes, we all have holes. We are all imperfect people, in an imperfect world just being refined and perfected for our journey home. We are all simple Swiss Cheese…

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23