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.
Blessed are you,agreeing to stand still long enoughto let your eyes adjust to the darknessuntil the starlight begins to appear,the dawning of God’s promises.–Kate Bowler, A Blessing for Open Arms Be still, my friend, and breathe with me.Let us open … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent, compassion, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections
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Tagged A Weary World Rejoices, Esther Hizsa, Gianni, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Iris Nebula, Kate Bowler, Living from the Heart, Romans 8:22-25, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Thiên Long, Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus
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Saturday morning, I stirred the pot on the stoveand noticed the contents were too watery.I felt churning in my stomachand butterflies in my chest.Translation:If this doesn’t work outI can’t handle it. This is what puts me over the edge?Date squares … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent, compassion, Poetry, Reflections
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Tagged Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jean Alves, Living from the Heart, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Teona Swift, the body never lies, Thomas keating
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Blessed are you …Telling the truth about where you are…Because this is precisely the placewhere God will meet you.–Kate Bowler, A Blessing for Telling the Truth All shall be well.God is always with us.There is nothing to fear. I know … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent, compassion, Poetry, Reflections
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Tagged A Weary World Rejoices, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Kate Bowler, Living from the Heart, Lost little lamb, lost sheep, Luke 15:4, Matthew Kirkland, Nativities Festival, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, telling the truth, The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
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The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”–Luke 1:28 (NIV) You come to us,as you did to Maryand ask if we will bear Christ already seeded in us. Like Mary, we don’t … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent, compassion, Poetry, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged 3 angels, Advent, Annunciation, Colossians 1:27, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Leonardo da Vinci, Living from the Heart, Luke 1:28, Pom', SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, terren in Virginia
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And if the morning never comes,I’ll be here for whatever does.–Paul Zach, If the Morning Never Comes I keep hoping. Of course, I do. Who wouldn’t want to be seen, heard and lovedby the ones born to do that? And … Continue reading →
Posted in compassion, Poetry, Reflections, Songs
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Tagged Clickrbee, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Night Cruising, Paul Zach, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The Porter's Gate
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I hold back, make myself small. Maybe no one will notice, no one will hear the clink of my measly offering. A part of me scoffs,“Why bother?It won’t make a difference to the church.Why not have one last meal?” I finger the coins in … Continue reading →
Posted in community, compassion, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Luke 21 1-4, Prayer of Imagination, Psalm146:9, Rembrandt, Royce Blair, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon
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Do you have the patience to waittill your mud settles and the water is clear?Can you remain unmovingtill the right action arises by itself?― Lao tzu, Chinese philopsopher, 6th century BC El-roi, the God who sees me sees me trying … Continue reading →
Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Alistair Nicol, Blue Heron, El-roi, Esther Hizsa, Genesis 16:13, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Isaiah 30:15, IShutterToThink, Living from the Heart, Patience, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon
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Between my father’s passingand the spreading of his ashes,my mother whispered to her husband,“I miss you.”I hear in her words how much he loved herand she, him. I think about my father with us nowas promised in scripture.In God, we live … Continue reading →
Posted in compassion, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Acts 17:28, Calmness, Colossians 3:3, Drop, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jeremiah 31:3, Living from the Heart, Maria Eklind, Matthew 28:20, rjp, Romans 8:31-39, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon
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The penny drops,and enlightenmentis eclipsedby the realization thatwhat had to be pointed out to mewas obvious to everyone else. Wonder hardly got a foot in the doorbefore embarrassmentshoved past her. Still, I’m glad I see nowwhat I couldn’t see then.It … Continue reading →
Posted in community, compassion, Poetry, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged All the beauty that's inside, Conversation, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Βethan, Living from the Heart, Psalm 36:7, Psalm 36:9, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, YoungDoo M. Carey
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We had a great plan. Then, bit by bit,what took shapechangedand changed againuntil I was left with more than my share of workand responsibilityalong with enough resentmentto keep me awake at night.What could I doto right this ship?I wanted to enjoy … Continue reading →
Posted in community, compassion, Poetry, Reflections
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Tagged charcoal soul, cup of love, Esther Hizsa, Henri Nouwen, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Luke 11:15-26, Pray as you go, resentment, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Svein Halvor Halvorsen, The Inner Voice of Love, Two hands one cup
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An Everyday Pilgrim 