Only by encountering another do we learn what charity is and who we are: brothers and sisters with capacities and responsibilities.

Many of you know I am a blogger at Medium.com, where I develop ideas, some of which I share on .famvin.org as “IamVincent” and “Vincentians of Wherever.” I also run into other bloggers that have something to say to our Vincentian family.

Anastasia Basil brings a very “vincentian” perspective to her reflections. Although she uses a secular perspective and mis-characterizes charity as we Vincentians understand it, her distinctions are on the mark.

Don’t confuse aid with charity. Charity is old coats. Donating a coat doesn’t make you a good person but I bet it makes you feel like one. You didn’t even want that coat anymore, what you wanted was the closet space. Sure, you could have sold it at a garage sale and made, like, twenty bucks. It was an expensive coat, damn it. But you, with your heart of gold, gave it away. There’s a twinkle in God’s eye just for you.

What makes you a good person to others (and not just to yourself) is the same thing that makes me, or anyone who can afford the occasional $12 cocktail, a good person: Your vote. Not your coat.

Vote for a Living Wage for others. Vote for health insurance for others. Don’t get in the way of food stamps for others. Understand how important $17 might be to others. That poor stretch of Atlanta is quiet because people are working and paying for day care. They’re clocking the same hours you’re clocking, but they make a shit wage.

Spending time with another allowed Anastasia to see herself and to see people who are poor differently. Allies. Friends. When we have become both friend and ally, we can say #IamVincent.

Enjoy Anastasia’s full article, “Ketchup sandwiches and other things stupid poor people eat,” here.