A helpful distinction I once heard — that between contradictions and correlations. In a contradiction, one side cancels out the other: A can’t be non-A.  In a correlation, the two things don’t cancel each other out, but rather one exists in tension with the other, each acting as a corrective on its opposite.

As an example, prudence and decisiveness. Prudence left to itself can slip into non-action, misplaced hesitancy. Decisiveness left alone can produce hasty judgment and impulsiveness. But the reverse: Prudence is what decisiveness needs to guard against stubbornness. Decisiveness is what prudence needs so as not to freeze action.  The pair exists as correlatives, correctives on each other.

Word pairings from psalm 85 illustrate this. “Kindness and truth shall meet.” Being overly kind could be hurtful to the one to whom I’m being kind; e.g., I don’t want to upset her by telling her she’s got a communicable disease. But being brutally truthful might shatter her peace of mind. Each needs the other. “Justice and peace shall kiss.” Justice without compassion can bring on undeserved cruelty. Peace without justice can take the substance out of the peace.

This distinction helps in considering our Vincentian virtues. As a for instance, Vincent’s meekness (gentleness). It certainly can help in ministering. But without proper firmness, it can empty the imperative from a needed directive.

The pattern shows up in the gospels. In Luke’s 12th chapter, Jesus warns us to be watchful for the Master’s arrival. But taken too absolutely, this can exhaust the watchman. Or Vincent’s counsel to “see Christ in the other” can be taken so literally as to pass over the uniqueness of that other person.

Correlatives: opposites that require each other to stay on track. Peace flavoring justice; justice grounding peace. Kindness in telling truth; truth firming up kindness.  Virtues, attitudes and behaviors: each reaching out for the tug of its opposite.