I think Bill Rosendahl has appeared on the cover of the Brentwood News more often than the next three closest contenders combined. He’s easy to talk to and always has something to say.
Though it’s long, I hope you will read our interview with him. He offers much to think about.
Years ago, he said something to me which literally changed my outlook on life, and I pass it along now for your consideration.
When he was first running for City Council back in 2005, he told me he was a little concerned that some might try to make an issue out of the fact that he was gay.
It seems like this has become a non-issue these days, but he was concerned at the time.
He leaned into me and said something that went like this: “Do you believe in God? God is perfect. God doesn’t make mistakes. Since God doesn’t make mistakes, that means gay people are here for a reason.â€
Wow. Think about it.
If God doesn’t make mistakes, that means everyone is here for a reason. So if you don’t like blacks, whites, Mexicans, gays, homeless people, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Republicans, Democrats, mentally ill people, physically deformed people, beautiful people, rich people, poor people – you are out of sync with God’s plan.
Once you embrace this thought – that God doesn’t make mistakes – your perspective suddenly changes in a big way.
If things we don’t like or understand are actually part of God’s plan, isn’t it up to us to try to figure out what that plan is?
Or shouldn’t we at least be open to the notion that our prejudices are NOT part of God’s plan? It seems doubtful God would WANT us to be prejudiced.
Maybe those who make us uncomfortable are sent here by God to give us an opportunity to become better, more tolerant and more understanding of other people.
Next time you begin to think you don’t like someone, consider that God put that person here – in your life – for a reason. Maybe that person is doing the best he or she can. If that person could do better, chances are, that person would. So maybe we need to be more compassionate and accepting. None of us is better than others; we’re all God’s children.
Then apply the same kind of thinking to animals, other countries – insects, even. All of a sudden, it becomes harder to be petty, mean-spirited or selfish. We’re all connected to one another.
It’s not all up to God. Here on earth, we can all nudge things along in an attempt to make things better. That seems to be mankind’s eternal quest, to keep making progress. That too seems to be part of God’s plan.
Bill Rosendahl, who has climbed to a higher level of enlightenment than most of us, points out that Brentwood is a rather special and privileged place – and of course, we know it is.
Therefore, those of us lucky enough to live here have an obligation to reduce prejudice and promote the betterment of society.
Just as more and more people no longer care if people are gay or not, there are still prejudices to overcome. God may be perfect, but we are not. But we can always do better.
Thank you, Bill, for your continued inspiration. May God be with YOU as you continue YOUR journey.
Bella Nalle, our Teen Talk Editor, submits her last column this issue. She, and Sarah Coe-Odess before her, did a terrific job.
In recent weeks, I’ve received several emails from some very bright Brentwood kids – is there any other type? – who now want to be our Teen Talk Editor.
In a new experiment, I’m going to rotate this around this coming year. That is, every month’s Teen Talk might be written by a different student who lives in Brentwood.
We have three young ladies I’ve said “yes†to. Any guys out there willing to give this a shot? We have Brentwood School, Archer and Marlborough covered. We need some more schools. Interested? Send me an email: jeffhall@brentwoodnewsonline.com.
Brentwood News has always been very “intern-friendly.†this year, we had two sisters, Jennifer and Catherine Drysdale, helping us. Jennifer, a student at Santa Monica College, was literally walking out of the school library days ago just seconds before a gunman walked in, preparing to fire away.
I asked Jennifer to share some thoughts with us. Go to: http://www.westsidetoday.wpengine.com/m3-9660/the-santa-monica-shooting.html
By the way, Jennifer just got accepted at USC, where she starts in the fall. A hearty congrats from the Brentwood News!
