A legacy of loving and inspiring others

Bill Kottenstette is the wisest person I know. Upon reading that sentence, he will probably make some witty, sarcastic joke, but it's true. I have never met anyone who embodies God's unconditional, nonjudgmental love and wisdom more than Father Bill.

When I came to Truman as a freshman, I had no idea the gift God had waiting for me in Father Bill's presence. Over the past three years, Father Bill has become my mentor, grandpa and most of all, friend.

I'm convinced Father Bill's deep love and his grace for himself and others springs from his own experiences with the depth of God's love and grace. God's pursuit of him amazes me. When he was younger, Father Bill taught at a school, was a principal and struggled with alcoholism, was arrested and convicted of felonies and asked to leave the Jesuit order. After years of running, simple circumstances led Father Bill to his sister's home in Kirksville, Mo., where he began attending a treatment program. He got sober and was invited back into the active priesthood nearly 25 years ago. In a reflection about his life for a high school reunion, Father Bill wrote, "God has done for me what I could not myself."

Today, Father Bill works with college students, is the priest at Truman's Newman Center and has also served at four other parishes in northeastern Missouri. His love knows no boundaries between denomination, religion or lack of religion, gender, socioeconomic status, "good" people or "bad." He serves, knows and loves a big God.

Father Bill has broadened and deepened my understanding of who God is and has shown me love is the only rule. Through him, God has dispelled the lies I believed about God. Father Bill has helped me to understand my fears and helped me to trust. He has never once given up on me, judged me, or made me feel ashamed. He has helped me to believe in the delight God feels toward me and shown me the joy that comes from believing God's love for me. He takes everything and turns it into positive, good. From his example I have learned how to have grace for myself. His ideas are radical because he preaches -- and lives -- love above all. He is spunky and keeps everyone on their toes with his humor. These are a few of the ways I know God better through Father Bill.

Today, Father Bill is celebrating his 40th anniversary of being a priest. I know you already know this, Father Bill, but you're going to have to read it again anyway. In these 40 years, you've affected so many lives and have been the true face of Christ to so many people. You've inspired multiple generations of college students to seek and accept the love God has for each of us as we are and to allow that love to transform us. Not only have you touched our lives, but also the lives of those we will touch. You are Christ to us every single day, and we love you.

Thanks for changing and helping to transform my own life. You're the best.

Mia Pohlman is a Perryville, Mo., native studying at Truman State University. She loves performing, God and the color purple -- not necessarily in that order.