Chris Bean

Within the culture and context of my own family and extended family, Thanksgiving is a big deal. It only took a couple of our 15 years together for my wife and I to discover the optimal system for dividing up holiday time between our families. On my side of the family tree…Thanksgiving has always been the big family gathering. There is always more great food, more family present, and more good will surrounding this holiday than any other. So typically, we spend 2-3 days with my parents and brothers, grandma, etc around the traditional Thursday celebration in late November.

One little bonus this year was running the Drumstick Dash in Indy on Thursday morning with my big brother, Bill, and his oldest daughter, Erin. The 4.5 trek around the Broadripple community in northwest Indy was Erin’s first official race while she was home from Hanover College.

After only one quarter on campus at the University of Cincinnati, I’d say it’s a pretty big week for many families. Several students left campus after only attending a handful of classes on Monday and Tuesday of the Thanksgiving week. I heard mention of professors canceling their Wednesday classes because they knew students were leaving campus early. Perhaps the only thing that kept the masses hanging around campus this past week was the big game against Illinois on “Black Friday” which was particularly ‘black’ for the fighting Illini (Bearcat Black!)

My campus ministry-mates at the Edge House were engaged in some great efforts of hospitality and compassion…serving up some delicious Thanksgiving meals for those in need. Even after only one quarter’s worth of ministry, I know the Edge House is making a great impact on the students, campus, and community. Being part of the Edge House while serving students via the CCO & Nazarene Church has been a great combination so far. And we’ve only just begun!