Category Archives: compassion

Save Us

Posted on August 8, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Yesterday, we returned home from camping in the Kootenays.Today, I’m baking bread, and Fred is vacuuming out the car.I wish he could vacuum up the smoke and everyone were safe at home. One hundred and four wildfires are actively … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Creation, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Bowen Assman, Bradley Creek Fire, Castanet, Deuteronomy 31:6, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Liam Phair, Living from the Heart, Psalm 10:1, Psalm 16, Psalm 16:10, Qilpituk Creek, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Vernon fire | 1 Comment

Falling in Love

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Nothing is more practical thanfinding God, thanfalling in Lovein a quite absolute, final way …Fall in Love, stay in love,and it will decide everything.–Joseph Whelan, SJ I need to find andfall in love with God in an absolute, final way. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Creation, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Alfalfa, Alice Walker, Church of the Wild, Esther Hizsa, Falling in Love, Grey Canal Trail, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Joseph Whelan, Living from the Heart, Michael Major, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Victoria Loorz | 1 Comment

A Contemplative in the Kitchen

Posted on June 19, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

I forget that I’m sort of on the autism spectrumuntil I walk into a room full of activity with a job to do,and I’m overwhelmed. It’s my turn to make dinner:pizza and salad for twenty family members in a foreign … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, compassion, Poetry, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Luke 6:36, Petr Kratochvil, pile of dirty dishes, pizza, Robert, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

Finding Us

Posted on May 17, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

What did I hear in that note that stunned me and sent me into the sock drawer, consumed with anger and hate? I heard: You are not enough, just as I had begun to skip along trusting that I was. As I walked with … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Ban Galbasi, Doris Pailthorpe, Ernest Thompson Seton, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Living from the Heart, Plum leaves, Raggylug, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

Double Dutch

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

It’s bad enough when awareness comes in a look or a wondering with space to soften and say farewell to what I thought was real. But when I’m up to 97, 98, 99, 100 in Double Dutch and the blunt end raps my knuckles, stuns my … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, False Self, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged awareness, Beatrice Murch, crucifixion, Double Dutch, Esther Hizsa, Felipe Bastos, Friendship, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Rumi, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The Guest House | 1 Comment

Realignment

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

After thirteen days away, (a dozen visits with friends and family, six ferries, one airport, a drive through downtown Vancouver, retreating on Galiano and leading a retreat on Bowen), I looked forward to coming home to home, to my Fred,my kitchen, my … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, compassion, Creation, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged crucifixion, deer, Esther Hizsa, Golden Finch, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jenny Pansing, Living from the Heart, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 23:3, Psalms for Praying, Scot Close, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

As If I Wasn’t Dying Inside

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.–Psalm 22:14 (NIV) Jesus, on the cross, poured out like water bones out of joint heart turned to wax, … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Creation, Easter, Lent, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Birds on a Rainy Day, Celtic Blessing, crucifixion, Deep Peace, Esther Hizsa, Golden Moth, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Karl Jenkins, Living from the Heart, Macomb Paynes, resurrection, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Sylvia Sassen | Leave a comment

A World Filled with Love

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

He showed me a little thing, the size of a hazelnut, in the palm of my hand, and it was as round as a ball. I looked at it with my mind’s eye and I thought, “What can this be?” … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Helpful Images, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Colin Hansen, Esther Hizsa, hazelnut, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Julian of Norwich, Living from the Heart, Milky Waters, Rainer Maria Rilke, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Virginia Wieringa | Leave a comment

Room to Be

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

“Look at all your plants!” my guest said. “They’re so healthy.” Before I could stop myself, I recounted the story of my rare cactus who died because I misunderstood her. Later, as I walked to church, I noticed how I’m quick to balance … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Ecosystem, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Long loving look, Peggy Riley, Scott McCracken, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Teeter Totter, Walter Burghardt | 1 Comment

Found

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

As I return and rest, I feel gentle hands unfolding a crumpled part of me, smoothing it to the edges. Now She’s softening the creases, straightening the bent back corner, and tracing my words with Her finger. I feel Her reading my thoughts, holding the whole story.I … Continue reading →