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.
Fred and I have been attending a little Anglican Church in our neighbourhood. For Lent we joined a group that has been gathering after church to discuss Brian McLaren’s new book, We Make the Road by Walking. One chapter focused … Continue reading →
Posted in Lent
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Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Blueberry, Brian McLaren, Burnaby, freedom, Hannah Nieman, Matthew 23:20, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, We Make the Road by Walking
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“God is smitten with us,” Steve Bell said between songs at a recent concert. “Lent is about love and returning to the Lover who is absolutely smitten with us.” To get us in the mood for Lent, Steve sang love … Continue reading →
Posted in Lent, Stories
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Tagged Christian Asuh, Esther Hizsa, Jeremiah 31:3, lent, Matthew 10:30, pilgrimage, smitten, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell
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After the Samaritan woman talked with Jesus at the well, her life changed dramatically. From then on, I bet she kept an eye out for him whenever she went to get water. I can even imagine them having more conversations that weren’t recorded in scripture. In … Continue reading →
Posted in False Self, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Prayer
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Tagged approval, attachments, control, Esther Hizsa, false self, Ignatius of Loyola, John 4, living waters, Photine, Rezi, Samaritan woman, significance, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Spiritual Exercises, Vulcan Stream, woman at the well
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When I told a friend about my dream, she was moved by what came out of it. “Why do you think God gave you that dream now?” she asked. “That’s a very good question,” I said. We both knew it was a question … Continue reading →
Posted in Lent, Stories
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Tagged Celtic prayer, Christ be with me, Esther Hizsa, God with us, hairs on our heads, I bind unto myself, Jørn Støylen, Pebble Beach, practising the presence of God, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Patrick's Breastplate
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I dream that I’m at an event in an unfamiliar place. I find a list of the seminars offered and choose one to attend. But when I go to check the room number, the schedule is gone. Now, what do … Continue reading →
Posted in Lent, Mystical, Stories
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Tagged bad dream, dream, Esther Hizsa, feeling God's feelings, Psalm 42:7, Samuel T. Francis, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Deep Deep Love of Jesus, Tony Hisgett, Waves
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Read the introduction in DIY Prayer Retreat #1 for general instructions on how to facilitate a prayer retreat. 10:00- 10:30: Gather It is helpful to begin this retreat by sharing loving images of God. You may use artwork or a story like … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer Retreat Outline, Resource, Stories
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Tagged Artisan Church, David L. Fleming SJ, DIY Prayer Retreat, Esther Hizsa, Examen, Ignatian Spirituality, Joel Montes de Oca, Journal entry, Lance Odegard, Neil Gallop, Parker Palmer, Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, silent prayer, silent retreat, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Theophan the Recluse, What Is Ignatian Spirituality?
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I was ten kilometres into my ride on a sunny January day, when I got a flat tire. I searched my bike’s panniers, but the levers weren’t there. Without them, it would be impossible to fix the flat. I hate … Continue reading →
Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Stories
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Tagged Burnaby, epiphany, Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, Gracie, Grinnin' on Gracie, He who hesitates is lost, hesitate, Isaiah 40; Isaiah 40:31, Kevin Bond, Malachi 3, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Vancouver, waiting, waiting on God
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It’s the end of Ordinary Time in the church year. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. For the next forty days, like many Christians, I will give up something I enjoy, so that I can identify in some small way with Christ’s … Continue reading →
Posted in Lent
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Tagged Ash Wednesday, Ashes, Ashes to go, confession, Esther Hizsa, Gerry Brague, John 8:31, John 8:32, last year's palms, lent, ordinary time, penitance, repent, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Martin, Stephen 10on12
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What feelings emerged for you when you read last Friday’s post? Perhaps you were drawn to that idyllic picture of God and prayer, yet frustrated because it’s nothing like your experience. Perhaps for you, prayer is as dry and unattractive … Continue reading →
Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Prayer
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Tagged Dixieroadrash, Dormant Fern Garden, Esther Hizsa, Hebrews 11:1, Jay Pastore, Matthew 28:20; Philippians 4:5, Psalm 139:7, Rae Allen, Sower and the seed, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sprout, vege garden
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How powerless the soil is to produce anything on its own. I am praying with Jesus’s parable of the sower and the seed. I can relate. No matter how hard I try, those three unreceptive soils are in me, impeding … Continue reading →
Posted in Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination
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Tagged Burnaby, dependence on God, helplessness, Madison Murphy, Mark 4:1-20, Michael Cook, Night Prayer, Noon Prayer, parable of the soils, SoulStream, SoulStream noon prayer, Sower and the seed, Sower with Setting Sun, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Vancouver, Vincent van Gogh
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An Everyday Pilgrim 