The gift of perspective

If anyone wants to get perspective handed to them, may I suggest a drive through Valley Oaks Mobile Home Park? But don’t go empty-handed, because you’ll want to give until your pockets are empty.

I recently dropped off some clothing in a room full of silent bags of shared clothes, shoes and other people’s lives. Next door was a tiny kitchen with a cheerful woman busily organizing food donations. I dropped off my little contribution and was rewarded with a big smile and a warm and heartfelt “God bless you!”

Yes, it’s hard to look at the twisted metal outlines of cars and tricycles and wheelbarrows and the broken, burnt remains of so many homes, but it is Fallbrook’s very own war zone – not leveled by bombs, but fire.

We have to look. These are our neighbors. And if the joy of giving doesn’t fill you enough, then feel the gift of perspective; you won’t feel like griping about petty irritations anymore.

If you didn’t lose everything, go bless the ones who did. It will help us all heal.

Ramia Khalsa