About Esther Hizsa
Esther is a writer, spiritual director, and cofacilitates contemplative retreats and courses. She lives in Vernon, B.C. with her husband, Fred.
Open in me the gates of the kingdom, I prayed before church on Sunday, hoping something in the service would enliven me. But God’s still, small enlivening was not in a hymn, the sermon or Eucharist as much as it … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction
|
Tagged Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, from Love of Love for Love, Galatians 6:2, Grade Two kids, Jacqueline Bergen, Joe Crawford, keys, Principle and Foundation, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, Sr.Marie Schwan, Steve Imbach, Thomas Green
|
The kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy through the Holy Spirit Come, Lord, and open in us the gates of your kingdom. —Taizé Community Notice it’s not “open to us” but “open in us.” The gate is in … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections
|
Tagged Esther Hizsa, Jeff Imbach, kingdom of God, Living from the Heart, Mario, Michael D. O'Brien, Pray as you go, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Taizé, The Open Gate
|
Sometimes I don’t care and I don’t care that I don’t care. I’m tired of feeling guilty for my lack of compassion for eating too much for not trying to be more Christlike and I don’t want to figure out … Continue reading →
Posted in Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections
|
Tagged Brian Stiller, clay pots, Esther Hizsa, gangs, Greg Boyle S.J., Healing trauma, Henri Nouwen, Homeboy Industries, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
|
Today a new cohort will gather at Rivendell Retreat Centre on Bowen Island to begin the Living from the Heart course. I’ll be there too, co-facilitating with Deb, Jeff, and Brent. I expect the participants will be excited and a … Continue reading →
Posted in Prayer, Reflections, Stories
|
Tagged 1 Corinthians 3:16, Esther Hizsa, Living from the Heart, Loise Docker, Love Heart, Psalm 32:8, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim
|
It was raining and the forecast was for rain all week. I wouldn’t have minded if it was a typical week of writing, seeing directees, and going to the Wednesday Lunch Club, but all that was scheduled for the next … Continue reading →
Posted in Homelessness, Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories
|
Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Esther Hizsa, If you can't beat it, Karen O'Shannacery, Psalm 16:11, Society to End Homelessness, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Splash
|
“You’re the only one here who isn’t retired,” my brother said to me. I was with two of my siblings and their spouses at my brother’s cottage in Minnesota. They were planning a trip to France next year and welcomed … Continue reading →
Posted in Aging, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Stories
|
Tagged Aging, Canoe, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 48:6-7, Martin Cathrae, OakleyOriginals, portage, Praying, retirement, Rocky Portage, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Stoplog Canoes, Tarah, transitions, Unfolding LIght
|
I know I shouldn’t compare myself with others. There’ll always be someone who is kinder, wiser, and taller than I am. But it’s not so easy to let go of comparisons when it seems like I’m the only one in … Continue reading →
Posted in Reflections, Rob Des Cotes
|
Tagged Birds on a Wire, Esther Hizsa, false self, Immortal Diamond: The Search for the True Self, John O'Donahue, Julie Falk, Mayor Corrigan, Measuring Up, Richard Rohr, Rob Des Cotes, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tony Robbins, true self, woodleywonderworks
|
Soon after my eight-day retreat, I queued up the last five blog posts so they would be published while I was away on vacation. It felt good to know I didn’t need to have another post ready until August 24. … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Stories
|
Tagged Alex Rossi, Blues, Brews and BBQs, Esther Hizsa, Foggy Beach, Habitat for Humanity, Harrison Street, jen, Living from the Heart, Mike Maguire, Miss Myra and the Moonshiners, Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Prism, Ron Frehner, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
|
My Eight-Day Retreat: Part 5 Father Roshan picked up on the theme of finding the lost and assigned me the story of Zacchaeus for one of my prayers. I took the despised tax-collector’s place. However, in my story, everyone was … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections
|
Tagged 8 day retreat, Chris Chiu, Divine Union, Eric Magnuson, Esther Hizsa, John 14:20, John 17:20-21, JSAV, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, The Dark Night of the Soul, The Open Door
|
My Eight-Day Retreat: Part 4 On Day Five of my eight-day retreat, Father Roshan invited me to pray with a few “Joyful Mysteries.” In the first, I relived a wonderful visit with our now 36-year-old son and his wife. In … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections
|
Tagged 1 John 4:18, Esther Hizsa, Good Samaritan, Luke 10:27-35, Luke 15:11-31, Prodigal Son, Renaud Camus, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Thomas Hawke, William-Adolphe Bouguereau
|
An Everyday Pilgrim 