If you haven’t yet read Stave One of this Christmas series, please go take a gander!

The next night, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present. The Spirit shows him the glories of Christmas Day and how people around the world, especially those interwoven into Scrooge’s own life, joyously celebrate it. He is introduced to the family of his clerk and is particularly drawn to concern for Tiny Tim, Cratchit’s sickly son. When asked if he will live, the Ghost delivers bleak news. When Scrooge protests, the Spirit quotes Scrooge’s own heartless words, spoken mere days ago,

“If they would rather die, . . . they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

Further on, Scrooge also watches his nephew, niece-by-marriage, and friends partake in games and even heartily toast his good health. Scrooge is struck by the joys that these families take part in, as though their poorer state would somehow correlate to their enjoyment of the season. Their humble and glad approach, both despite his lack of beneficial influence, to the day is strange, though affecting, to Scrooge.

Many Christmas celebrations are witnessed, but the Spirit does not part with Scrooge before bringing a sobering truth. The Spirit reveals two, wanton children who are the embodiment of Ignorance and Want. The exchange is not left without sharp chastisement and more usage of Scrooge’s own words against him.

“This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!” cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. Slander those who tell it ye! Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And bide the end!”

“Have they no refuge or resource?” cried Scrooge.

“Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. ‘Are there no workhouses?'”

While the Spirit does dwell on the happy gaieties, He also presses to Scrooge the importance of his words and actions, especially in regards to others. Not only this, but that our personal impact on the betterment or continuance of the present sufferings of others is quite in our charge.

“There are some upon this earth of yours,” returned the Spirit, “who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.” 

While I would encourage you to enjoy the day, no matter the state in which it finds you, I’d also challenge you not to forget Ignorance and Want, the offspring of mankind, of ourselves.

Where do Ignorance and Want dwell in your life, even on this day? Where do you see them staring back at you? In your neighbor’s eyes? In the homeless man’s? In the estranged family member’s? In your own reflection?

My day has been full of Christmas joys: family, presents, home-cooked meals, card games, emergency room visits (Don’t worry. Everybody’s fine), etc. Yet, though I’m full of turkey and the warmth of familial affection, my need for a Savior remains. I am still the sin-leaning woman that feeds Ignorance and Want daily.

May I honor the day and its Founder, not only on the 25th of December, but as if every day were the 25th of December.

I know I said I’d do this daily, but I have had a better idea since. Look for my exposition on the last Spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Future, on New Year’s Eve!