I titled one of the past postings, A Day Unlike Any Other. Well, it turned out that there were several days that were unlike any other I’ve ever experienced. And now that we have returned to some semblance of normalcy, everyday life just pales in comparison.

But I know the secret to a happy life is finding joy in the mundaneness of everyday living. So I am going to take a break from writing the blog for awhile until I find some fresh inspiration that kindles the muse.

Thanks to everyone for reading the blog and posting your comments of support. They helped a lot. Tally ho for now…

P.S. I will leave you with this image, which reminds us all that there is no better antidote for depression than a good food fight.

Drake and the Cake

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The Dash

I read of a reverend, who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend.
He referred to the dates on his tombstone from the beginning…to the end.

So, when your eulogy is being read with your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be pleased with things they say about how you spent your dash?

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Based on the many wonderful memories that have been shared about The Big E today, I know he would be pleased. I know that he spent his dash well.

What an honor it is to be a member of the family Ed & Shirley built.

The Big E was a gentle giant – rough on the outside and sponge cake on the inside.

My Father-in-Law was a hard worker, up early and on his way before sunrise most of his working years. And, he never came home without 2 gallons of milk in his hands – often to the sounds of cheers!

And those hands – they were the size of baseball mitts with heavy calluses that proved he rarely stood on the sidelines. What a contrast to see those rugged hands tenderly holding our newborn babies. Young children were drawn to his sweet spirit. Animals could sense his gentle nature. And we were all warmed by his hearty laugh or his “Tally Ho!”

I met Ed & Shirley nearly 24 years ago…looking at pictures, The Big E didn’t change much.

He will be missed. I miss him already. But I know he is healthy, vital and with Jesus now. And, I know I will see him again and we will laugh & share stories about the family that Ed & Shirley built.

Please, don’t be sad because it’s over. Be happy because it happened! Be happy because The Big E spent his dash well.

-Karin L. Bursa, blessed to be The Big E’s Daughter-in-Law.

Twas the night before Christmas, and outside Ed’s house
The electric meter was whirring from all the juice being put out.
The extension cords were strewn across the yard with care
In hopes that none of the breakers would flare.

He sprang to his vehicle, to his wife gave a whistle
And away they all flew like an ICB missile.
But I heard Ed exclaim as he drove out of sight
Christmas decorations priced half off, all right!

Some of you may not be aware that Dad was into Christmas lights. I mean REALLY into Christmas lights. He put up thousands and thousands of lights every year along with the inflatable yard ornaments and the moving wire ornaments and just about anything that shouted Christmas.

In thinking about those Christmas lights, it struck me that Dad’s passion for lights is indicative of the creative spark that exists within each of us. We all have one, and it cannot be extinguished. We just need to find an outlet for that creativity, and in Dad’s case, that outlet was his annual display of Christmas lights.

When we were growing up, Dad didn’t have time to indulge in the luxury of a creative outlet; he was too busy supporting his family. He would work 10 – 12 hours a day, come home, eat supper, and then sometimes go out and help Mom clean offices, or he’d go to one of his kids’ games. His focus was on taking care of others, and any creative instincts were, for the most part, suppressed by necessity.

But then he retired.

He finally had time to explore those creative urges. Lots of quality time. Two months of quality time, in fact, to setup his masterpieces of Christmas display, which were unveiled on the night of Thanksgiving. The displays were truly amazing, and they got better and better each year.

He got a kick out of seeing all the cars slowly driving around the cul-de-sac, checking out the lights. Sometimes he would even stand outside and chat with the folks that came by. I’m sure he got a lot of satisfaction from seeing others enjoy his work and also knowing that he had brightened their holiday season…literally.

But apparently, God noticed too. And He decided that He needed Dad in heaven to help with their Christmas lights.

So, I expect,
that this Christmas season, when we look to the night sky,
we will see that it looks a little brighter,
maybe a little over the top,
because Dad will be in charge of lighting the stars.

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Dad was not one to say good-bye. Instead, when you were in your car about to drive away, he would give you one of these Texas Longhorn-looking hand gestures and he would say Tally Ho!

I think it’s time for all of us to wish him a Tally Ho.

So, on the count of three, let’s shout out a loud and hearty TALLY HO!

Are you ready? One, two, three…TALLY HO!

Tally ho, Dad. We’re gonna miss you like crazy.

First, we come to mourn the loss of a loved one. We have not come to deny our grief, but to acknowledge it and understand it: an indication of the love that was felt for Ed.

We come out of respect for a loved one-and to say “farewell” until another time.

Secondly, we come to celebrate the life that has already been shared with us. We come to remember and give thanks for the life God gave to Edward Bursa.

Ed’s life touched many lives: as husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and brother-in-Christ.

Third, and finally, we come here today to acknowledge our faith…to claim the sure promises God has made to Ed and to us.

Today we remember that because Christ lived beyond death, we too shall share in that victory and be welcomed into God’s heavenly kingdom.

That is the promise of our faith and it is what we hope for Ed today and it is what we hope for ourselves.

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This afternoon’s second scripture reading is the well known text on the “fruits of the spirit.” It was chosen by Ed’s son, Ed Jr., because it reminded him of all the wonderful qualities his dad modeled throughout his life; the spiritual qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

If I were going to base my message this afternoon on just one of these fruits, and how it manifested itself in Ed’s life and witness, I might talk about the deep love Ed had for his wife Shirley and their five children, and five grandchildren. Mentioning that just about every time I visited him in the hospital, he would always ask for prayers for his family and what they were going through.

If I were to talk about peace, I might talk about the Lord’s peace that seemed to surround and protect Ed. Or the peaceful feeling I experienced after spending time with him while on pastoral calls. It was no doubt that peace that enabled Ed to greet his transition from this life to the next without fear or anxiety of what lay ahead.

If I were to talk about patience, I’d tell you about the time Ed, out of the goodness of his heart, super-glued a treasured Lenox manger scene that had been given to me as a gift years ago, after our puppy had knocked it off our hall table and it had fallen and broken into many tiny pieces last Christmas. It was nothing short of miraculous; it looked good as new after Ed was able to put that figurine back together.

If I were to speak about kindness, I would begin by recalling how Ed was always doing things (like repairing that manger scene) for others. In fact, right before he was diagnosed, Ed went to another church member’s home and installed a kitchen cabinet.

Then again, if I were to base my homily on faithfulness, I might choose to talk about the fact that the only time Ed and Shirley missed worship was when they were out of town or ill. Then again, maybe I’d mention the hours upon hours they devoted in caring for the church and the church grounds. Things just started to “get done” after they joined the church family. No fuss; no fan-fare.

If I were to base my homily on self-control, I might recall how Ed never once complained throughout his illness. Every time I would visit Ed in the hospital and at home, with the exception of one time, when I asked him how he was feeling, he would say, “Oh, fine. But I’m concerned about Shirley.” The only time Ed didn’t respond in this way was four days before his death when he simply said, “I’m not feeling so good today.” Hardly a complaint.

Anyone who knew Ed Bursa Sr., could see the fruit of God’s holy spirit in his life. But the particular fruit of the spirit, that Ed had present in his life and witness that I’d like to focus on today is joy.

What is joy?

In defining something, sometimes it is helpful to say what that thing is not.

Joy is not to be confused with happiness.

Although happiness is great, it is fleeting. Joy is to be sought more than happiness. It is deeper and has staying power. Happiness has to do with circumstances. We’re happy when we get a raise, or the sun is shining, or the Gators win.

Joy, is a state of being that is not dependent on what is happening in our lives. The Greek word most often translated as joy is the nuance of well-being, making it an inner quality.

Joy is not linked to or affected by money, success, status, age, gender, even physical health.

No, joy and happiness are not the same thing.

There is nothing “happy” about finding out that you have pancreatic cancer and your days with those you love the most, are numbered. Even so, not even that news could rob Ed of his joy. Joy is hard to pin down but we know it when we see it and it was present in Ed Bursa’s life.

But where does joy come from? And more to the point, how can we more fully experience the joy that Ed knew?

Psalms 127 says, “Happy is the man who has a quiver full of sons.”

Ed indeed had a quiver full of sons and a wonderful daughter as well. No doubt his children brought him much happiness, but more importantly, the relationships that he shared with them, with his wife Shirley, with his grandchildren, his extended family, and church family, was, I believe, the source of his joy.

A team of psychologists from UCLA put it this way, “Joy springs from connection and communion between the joyous and another person, object, idea.” Those are their words—connection and communion. Or in other words, joy is not something we attain or produce. Joy is something we receive.

Think for just a moment about a time in your life when you experienced real joy. A moment of deep gladness, an inner sense of well-being, an experience that gave you the ability to view the world and what was happening around you with new grace-filled eyes. Perhaps you are thinking about a wedding, the birth of a child, a family reunion, a party. Most of our most joy-filled times involve other people.

If another person was not included in your memory, my guess is that as soon as that joyful moment happened, you went to share it with someone else.

Experiences of joy almost never happen alone. They almost always involve another person either directly or indirectly and it’s the connection between the two that allows the joy to flow.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine . . . Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” Joy is experienced in our relations but it originates in our relationship with the Lord.

When we stay connected to the vine that is Christ, God’s presence and character produces joy.

Ed Bursa was blessed to know the deep joy of the Lord.

Ed’s faith in Jesus Christ was the center of his life. Is it any surprise that he had one of the biggest and best Christmas light displays in all of Gainesville? What a wonderful way to share the joy of the birth of the Christ child with others.

On Sunday, August 16th in the year of our Lord 2009, Edward Bursa found an end to all earthly suffering.

We claim the promise of Matthew 11:28 for Ed, which says, “Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Now Ed, I believe, is experiencing the fullness of joy that God’s word teaches can only be found in God’s presence. For Ed, his joy is complete.

Can you hear the king of heaven welcome him saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant. (Matt 25:21) Come, Ed, you are blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matt 25:34)

And now to the One who by the power at work within us,
Is able to do far more abundantly
Than we can ask or imagine,
To God be the glory in the church
And in Christ Jesus
To all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

A lot happened over those hours, so I plan to spread out the details over several days. Needless to say, it was all great.

I will start with an overview of Dad’s service…

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection
September 5, 2009
for
EDWARD R. BURSA
September 11, 1931 – August 16, 2009

Prelude

Sentences of Scripture

• Psalm 124:8 – Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
• Romans 8:35, 37-39 – What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• John 11:25-26 – Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Opening Prayer

First Scripture Reading – Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Second Scripture Reading – Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Homily by Pastor Dawn

Tributes by Family and Friends

• Deb Bursa
• Karin Bursa
• Brian Bursa

Solo – Lord, I Tried and Amazing Grace by Lois Ferguson

Pastoral Prayer

Hymn – The Lord’s Prayer

Commendation

Benediction

Presentation of the U.S. Flag by Korean War Veterans Assoc.

Postlude and Recession of Minister and Family Members

The Bursa grandchildren will release butterflies in the Trinity Courtyard and balloons in the front of the Sanctuary immediately following the service.

All are invited to Memorial Hall for refreshments and fellowship following the service.

Edward R. Bursa Sr.

Edward R. Bursa Sr.

Ed was born on September 11, 1931 on a farm in Hobbie, PA. After graduating from Nescopeck High School (where he was a star on the Warriors’ powerhouse basketball team), he served two years in the US Army. In 1958, he married his beloved wife, Shirley Ney, and they raised five children together. In search of warmer weather, Ed and Shirley moved the family from Berwick, PA to Fort Lauderdale, FL in 1967.

Ed worked in south Florida as a construction supervisor until he was 70 years old, when he and Shirley retired to Gainesville. In retirement, Ed enjoyed watching NASCAR, gardening, serving as a deacon at his church, and spending time with his much-loved grandchildren. He also wowed visitors with an awesome display of Christmas lights.

The Big E was a loving husband and a fun father whose sweet, gentle, easy-going nature was cherished by his many friends in the community. He worked hard all his life but he was never too busy to help someone in need.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Bolek Peter Bursa and Anna (Waxmonsky) Bursa as well as his sisters Marion Boyer, Donna Mondor, and Margie Cortese.

Ed will be greatly missed by friends and family but especially by his immediate survivors: wife Shirley; children Deborah, Edward Jr., Brian, Scott, and Frank; daughters-in-law Karin (Ed Jr.), Kirsten (Brian), Kristin (Scott), and Larissa (Frank); and grandchildren Brock, Drake, Landon, Brehanah, and Charlotte. His surviving siblings are John Bursa, Frank Bursa, Helen Campagna, and Florence Bursa.

A memorial service and reception will be held on September 5, 2009 at 2 PM at Kanapaha Presbyterian Church, 6221 SW 75th Terrace, Gainesville, FL.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245 or Kanapaha Presbyterian Church.

The Big E courtesy of Scott

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Dad’s name to one of the following organizations:

• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245
• Kanapaha Presbyterian Church, 6221 SW 75th Terrace Gainesville, Florida 32608