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.
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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Here is a helpful reflection for spiritual directors to use after offering spiritual direction. After offering spiritual direction, take some time to pray with what transpired. Begin by opening yourself to Christ’s presence. Descend with your mind into your heart and look into … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Resource, Spiritual Direction
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Tagged Esther Hizsa, Examen for supervision, Ignatian Spirituality, jack Jewell, Risen Christ by the Sea, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, supervision
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I’m thinking about the things I do that hurt others and how I wish I wouldn’t do them. Thankfully, I have come to believe that God doesn’t despise me when I sin. Before I catch myself doing something wrong or … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit
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Tagged Burnaby, Donghee Bae, Irene Nobrega, quantum bunny, Rich Mullins, Romans 7:21-25, sad creature, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, strong like bull, TakeTone Cements, Vancouver, We are not as strong as we think we are
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I imagine myself in the shelter of God’s wings, safe and warm. Angels relieve me of my duties. I can hang up the worries of my day, click off my brain, and rest. Be still, I tell myself, close your … Continue reading →
Posted in Popular Posts, Prayer, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim
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Tagged Burnaby, centering prayer, feather 1, Jim Champion, Mennonite Herald, Psalm 91:1, Psalm 91:4, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim
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On December 23, I was in Value Village when I remembered I needed to buy one last Christmas gift. I perused the books in the Religion and Spirituality section and came across two pristine copies of Ann Voskamp’s devotional, One Thousand … Continue reading →
Posted in Christmas, Stories
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Tagged A Daisy Day in May, Ann Voskamp, Brent M., Burnaby, Dayspring, Floral Themed Gift Wrap, gratitude, Josh, let go and let God, Matthew 6:30-33, One Thousand Gifts, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby
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“There’s a fire. A woman’s screaming for help,” my husband said and ran out the door. I followed Fred across the lawn to the townhouse building next to ours. Smoke billowed out the front door of an upstairs unit. Someone was calling … Continue reading →
Posted in Popular Posts, Stories
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Tagged bcfiretrucks, Burnaby, carving of Jesus, Child Rescued from Townhouse Fire in Burnaby, Ephesians 2:10, fire, Fred Hizsa, hero, Joe Crawford, spiritual director, Steve Imbach, Thomas Green, Vancouver
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On Christmas we entertained family and friends for most of the day. We enjoyed every guest that came. But visitors are not always easy to have around. They may come late, stay too long, or forget what they promised to bring. Inevitably someone will do something that unsettles … Continue reading →
Posted in Christmas, Ignatian Spirituality
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Tagged Berit Watkin, Calling of St.John, Coleman Barks, Essential Rumi, Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen, Rumi, The calling of St John during the marriage at Cana, The Guest House, Wedding at Cana, welcoming your feelings, Winter in Merstham
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Emmanuel when Jesus came he didn’t sneak in through the back door of poverty selling magic tricks for applause no Jesus came poor entered every day of every life and never left The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into … Continue reading →
The Christmas season tends to evoke a range of emotion in us. While we express tidings of comfort and joy, we may feel anything but comforted or joyful. It’s good to pay attention to those unsettling feelings and listen to what they are saying. “Why … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent, Popular Posts
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Tagged Angry Pflümli, Campus Crusade, Cat, Descend with the mind, Fact Faith Feeling Train, Four Spiritual Laws, Jeff Imbach, Kevin Dooley, Living from the Heart, Richard J. Foster, Sanctuary of the Soul, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tambako the Jaguar, Theophan the Recluse
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