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.
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 →
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 →
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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“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 →
Posted in Lent, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Alan Moore, Colin Knowles, daffodils, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Proverbs 15:31, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon
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I was invited into the desert with You,led there by the Spiritinto a barren placewith no food. You were temptedto turn stones into bread.You could have done it,but you refused. If I could have,I would have.Why wait for God to … Continue reading →
Posted in Lent, Mindfulness, Poetry, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections
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Tagged Alfred Stieglitz, Esther Hizsa, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Lawrence OP, Living from the Heart, Nan C. Merrill, Patience, Psalm 3, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, stones into bread, temptation in wilderness, waiting
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As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus … Continue reading →
Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections
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Tagged Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, Christ's Appearance to the Two Disciples Journeying to Emmaus, Esther Hizsa, Heinrich Hofmann, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, John Linnell, lent, Living from the Heart, Louis Savary, Prayer of Imagination, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The New Spiritual Excercises
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Pilgrimage Ash Wednesday He’s on the road waiting for me today we begin a forty-day walk to Jerusalem I lace up my shoes and follow from a safe distance but it’s bound to happen His eyes will … Continue reading →
Posted in Lent, Poetry, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim
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Tagged Ash Wednesday, Brian Whelan, Lenten Poem, Lenten Reflection, Luke 9:51, pilgrimage, Pilgrimage of Sight, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, The Way
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By the miracle of medicine and grace, my mother woke from the malaise of dementia. For two days, her quick mind was back. She laughed and shared stories. She hugged me and thanked me for taking care of her. As I … Continue reading →
Posted in Aging, Childhood, compassion, Poetry, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Ester Marie Doysabas, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 63, Psalms for Praying, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon
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An Everyday Pilgrim 