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.
After the angel Gabriel’s visit, Mary woke to a new reality. The pondering of her heart emerged on her lips as she washed the dishes and passed by the beggars on her way to fetch more water. “My soul glorifies the Lord,” … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent
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Tagged Advent, Christopher Bulle, Contemplation, Cristina 1, Gaylon Keeling, God waits for us, Hafiz, Keeping Watch, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:43-55, Pietro Annigoni, Psalm 13:1, wondrous thought
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What if the one you are waiting for never comes? It was only choir practice on a Thursday night at the little United Church a mile away. My friend Edith and I were thirteen years old and proud to be … Continue reading →
Last week I talked about deadlines closing in on me. One of them was SoulStream’s Living from the Heart course. It would be my first time co-facilitating a six-day intensive in spiritual formation, and I wanted to prepare well for it. Shortly before I … Continue reading →
Posted in Mystical, Prayer, Stories
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Tagged 2 Corinthians 3;18, An Open Gate, bruised reed, Isaiah 25:6-9, Isaiah 42:3, Living from the Heart, Lodge at Twin Creeks, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 122:1 & 2, Psalms for Praying, Rachel Hartland, smouldering wick, SoulStream, Transformation, unveiled faces
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During a restless night, I felt like the Israelites again. All the things I have to do were advancing toward me with their sharp spears, while my heels backed into the Red Sea. The cold reality of deadlines lapped at my … Continue reading →
Are you wondering how I am doing since the big announcement? (If you didn’t hear the news, I will not be working at New Life Community Church after December 31. You can read more about that here). I too wondered how I would fare in … Continue reading →
Posted in Prayer
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Tagged Alice Popkorn, busyness, confidence to carry on, Daniel Ladinsky, discouragement, Exodus 33:12-14, Hafiz, Just Sit There Right Now, Love Poems from God, Moses, praying in the cracks, Red Sea, Sitting in Silence, St-Takla
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Imagine you are in your favourite place, the instructions for the prayer read. Perhaps it is on a beach or in a cosy cabin. What do you see, hear, feel, taste, smell? Are you alone or with others? After you have relaxed … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Praying with the Imagination, Stories
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Tagged Contemplation of Place, Ian hoar, Jessica Gardner, John 1:1-3, Kimmeridge, Nan C. Merrill, Night Sailing, Night Sky, praying with the imagination, Psalm 18:10, Psalms for Praying, Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh
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“Be still, and know that I am God,” says the psalmist. Nearly every Thursday evening, our contemplative group gathers to do just that. Of course there is time for fellowship, reflection and songs, but we also pray in silence for … Continue reading →
Posted in Mindfulness, Mystical, Prayer
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Tagged be still, centering prayer, Cloud of Unknowing, Ephesians 3;20, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Kelly Dycavinu, Knit Together, Moonbeams, Psalm 46:10, silent prayer, William Johnson
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On October 5, an announcement was made to the congregation that my employment at New Life Community Church would end on December 31. A few days before, I was writing last week’s post. Nervous about the coming change, I reached for … Continue reading →
Posted in Popular Posts, Stories
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Tagged Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey, Eric Liddell, Flora Slosson Wuellner, freedom, McCrimmon Pulblishing, New Life Community Church, over work, seeks for that which is lost within me, SoulStream, The Risen Living Christ, Thomas Hawke, William-Adolphe Bouguereau
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Lately Jesus has been inviting me to hold his hand as we walk through life together. That reminds me of something that happened when Heidi was born. She was delivered as planned by caesarean section a week before the due date. Since I … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mindfulness, Stories
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Tagged Christ Calms the Storm, Christian Asuh, David L. Fleming SJ, Fr. Lawrence Lew, Hold On, Luc De Leeuw, Mark 4:39, Pray as you go, Soul of Christ, SoulStream
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Lately I have been beginning my day with Pray as you go In these short on-line reflections, I am often asked to imagine myself with Jesus and interact with him. One morning I was one of the women who followed Jesus. When … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Stories
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Tagged Christian Asuh, Cirque Peak, David L. Fleming SJ, enough has been given, Fred Hizsa, Pray as you go, Soul of Christ, SoulStream, Strolling with My Honey.
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An Everyday Pilgrim 