Kassiquan

Is This Necessary?

One of the major objectives of CAMBA’s (the agency at which I work) contracts I manage is to assist victims of crime in New York City complete an Office of Victims Services (OVS) Compensation Claim form.  This form enables victims of crime who were hurt or injured during the crime to be compensated for medical expenses, loss of wages (should one lose time off work due to the crime), and personal property that might of have been damaged or destroyed.  Should the victim complete an OVS Compensation claim with us we inform the victim that OVS will see to it that medical expenses are paid should the victim filing the claim not have medical insurance.  Should the victim lose time off from work and have no benefits such as workers compensation, we assist the victim to request the employer provide a written letter stating time and salary the victim lost during the period the victim was out of work.  OVS will pay the victim the amount due.  Finally, victims are compensated for personal essential property such as damaged clothing during the incident of the crime, medics ripping clothing off victim while in the process of performing first aid, and other property such as prescription glasses.  We make sure that victims of crime completing a claim understand what is identified as essential personal property; is this necessary?  Many victims will claim that cash was stolen, jewelry, cell phones and other electronic devices as well as their wallets.  OVS might not compensate victims for these items because the items are not necessary.  Exceptions might be if the victims of crime are elderly or minor children and items (except cash) are listed on the police reports submitted with the claim.  Is this necessary?

Lately, I have been toying with the phrase, “Is this necessary?”  I have been looking around my home and see that I have accumulated quite a lot of “stuff!”  Is this “stuff” really necessary?  I am a collector; not sure if this makes me a “hoarder.”  I don’t collect junk, though.  Now that we have entered the digital age where we no longer have to collect books, CD’s, and DVD’s I find that it is time to rid myself of all the “stuff” I have gathered (ahem, collected) and make some space.  I have collected quite a few books, some I have read and some (cough, cough), many I still have yet to read when I have the time.  With iTunes, I stopped buying CDs; they are downloaded on my iPhone.  Those CD’s I have collected, I copied and put into my library on the iTunes.  Last year I donated all my VHS movies, and have the DVD’s to those movies I wish to keep.  Some of my DVD’s are getting ready for a “trip out” later, and are now easy to find and watch online.  Is this necessary?

Yes, it is necessary.  I am at the stage in my life that I just cannot imagine myself moving to another place lugging all the “stuff” I have.  I am not a “spring rooster!”  I recall the first time I moved out on my own.  I was 19 years old.  I walked out of my parents’ home pulling a wagon with most of my possessions.  My Dad would not let me take my bed, my dresser, or anything because he said, “Everything belongs to me!”  Is this necessary?  But, I did leave the home with my wagon in tow that carried my small stereo, portable TV, and a trash bag filled with my clothes.  What stayed behind in my room that day, was not necessary.  I did not need them.  Eventually, I filled my own home with more than what stayed behind with my Dad.  Almost 20 years later, I decided to move again taking only my personal possessions that fit in my car and left everything else behind, they were not necessary.  It is now over 21 years later and I am contemplating another major move; still a bit later down the road.  Hopefully, this will be my last move and I am asking myself again as I look around at what I accumulated, “is this necessary?”  No, it is not.  But it is necessary; necessary to “weed out” now and not wait until later.

I have been looking around at my accumulation of “stuff” since 2012, when my maternal Grandmother entered the presence of Yeshua Ben Yosef (Jesus Christ).  My Aunt spent valuable time going through my Grandmother’s “stuff;” think she still is.  I kept some of the mementos my Aunt handed to me and gave some to family who wanted them.  My Uncle’s first year anniversary of entrance into the presence of Yeshua is today (October 8) and my Aunt is now spending valuable time going through his “stuff.”  My recent visit to see my mother presented another opportunity for me to re-visit my “stuff.”  My mother gave me copies of the Power of Attorney she signed with the Senior Apartments Manager.  My mother has quite a lot of “stuff,” and this sends alert signals that run through my being; I am aware of my own accumulation of “stuff.”  Is this necessary?  Oh yes, indeed!  It will be a big job to go through my mother’s “stuff” when the time comes.   I have stopped buying salt and pepper shakers for her collection – even though some are really fascinating.

In the Gospel of Luke, someone had asked Jesus to tell his brother to share the inheritance with him.  Jesus says to the crowd, “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body what you will wear.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in his entire splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well......For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:22-33); this is what is necessary!