Author Archives: Esther Hizsa

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.

Expanding and Contracting

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.–John 6:24 I was in the crowd sitting on that grassy hillside. You fed us bread … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Contract, Earhworm, Esther Hizsa, Expand, Feeding of Five Thousand, How Healing Comes, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, John 6, Living from the Heart, Ostaleri, pcstratman, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

Signs of Resurrection

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. –John 20:1 (CEV) The first sign of Christ’s resurrection came early.I recognized it when … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Dances of Universal Peace, Easter, Esther Hizsa, Fill your cup, gerbera, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, jeiline, Living from the Heart, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 9, resurrection, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Vitya_maly | Leave a comment

A Poem, Prayer and Song for Earth Day

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

Awakening I remember the momentI stood by the oceanand heard You whisper,in each wave that encircled my feet,that the earth on which I stoodand everything in itis Your body. The air I breatheis Your breath,the sand, Your skin,the love You … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections, Songs | Tagged Awakening, Canon Beach, Earth Day, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Randy Hausken, Rhapsody of Rest, Sara Thomsen, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Tjflex2, Tulips from my garden | 2 Comments

Resurrection Is Personal

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

Resurrection isn’t just about living forever. It’s about living now and how we pick up our cross, go through death and become a new revised version of ourselves. Resurrection is personal. I remember the Easter I entered the tomb after … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Holy Week, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Andrey Mironov, Easter, Esther Hizsa, resurrection, Resurrection of Lazarus, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 2 Comments

Scheduling a Time to Grieve

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

I told my spiritual director about the deep grief that overwhelmed me after my surgery and my grief returned quietly with tears. We listened –You, my spiritual director and I– to that tender part of me and heard what was … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, grief, Holy Saturday, loss, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | 2 Comments

This Good Friday

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

Crucifixion by Ukrainian artist Natalya Rusetskain You take in all our suffering feel every violent act every hope destroyed each final breath. From the cross you see through our denial and delusions. No justification dares return your gaze. From the … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged crucifixion, Esther Hizsa, Good Friday, Natalya Rusetskain, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Ukraine | Leave a comment

The Healing Power of Compassion

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

I awoke after surgery expecting painand discomfortbut I didn’t expect a hidden griefto break free, rise up andoverwhelmme. In that moment,I knew,as solidly as I knew anything,I needed a hand to hold–a friend who understood to stay with mein this cycloneof sadness. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Poetry, Reflections, Stories | Tagged after the storm, Bill Withers, compassion, cyclone, Esther Hizsa, grief, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Lean On Me, Living from the Heart, Picryl, Pxhere, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | 1 Comment

Known

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

I am made of the earthand of its Creatorflesh and spirithuman, divineimpermanent and eternal. I will dieand before I dieI will have died and risen againhundreds of times. On the Saturdaybetween Good Fridayand Easter Sunday,I lay awake in the tomband … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Easter, Mystical, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Amancay Maahs, Colossians 3:3, Esther Hizsa, Faith, Fr Lawrence Lew O.P., Irene Fennema, Just right she sighed, Living from the Heart, Lovely Feet, Psalm 4:8, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Corey | Leave a comment

We Need the Mind of Christ

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.–Albert Einstein What if I start with “we”?I didn’t create the problems the world faces, not on my own. But I do have an impact, good … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Reflections | Tagged Book of Hours, Esther Hizsa, Ginny, I Corinthians 2:16, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Mustang Joe, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The Book of Hours, The Thinker | Leave a comment

Course Corrections

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

“You need to signal, or you’ll end up getting hurt,” the man in a big pickup yelled out the open passenger window as he drove by. It was the first day of spring and my first ride of the year. … Continue reading →