Category Archives: compassion

State of Emergency

Posted on August 25, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Fires out of control Smoky skies, scratchy throat Bags packed and ready to evacuate Lord, have mercy.  Diagnosis Prognosis Chemo Side effects 70-80 percent successful She’s the one the doctor’s talking to Lord, have mercy. Clutching a cardboard sign on … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Homelessness, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Embraced in the Deep Love of Jesus

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Imagining ourselves in a gospel story with Jesus is risky. After all, if we stick to the script, we might hear Jesus can say something demanding, harsh or cold. Before Jesus fed the 5000, he told the disciples, “You give … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mystical, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Irrational Fear

Posted on August 11, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

After Julian of Norwich encountered Jesus in her near-death experience, she wrote down what happened and continued to reflect on the revelations of Christ’s love that she received. Then she wrote about these “showings.” That got me thinking: what if … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How Sin Is Both Something and No Thing

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

This week I offer you two quotes about sin from Turning to the Mystics podcast on Julian of Norwich. Mirabai Starr, who translated The Showings of Julian of Norwich, said: “’Sin has not a particle of substance. It is no … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Take and Receive

Posted on July 21, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

What does it mean to surrender myself to Love,to ask God to take and receive my life,and follow Christ into suffering? On the road to discovering thatI’m learning that it’s not saying yes to every need that arisesyet it’s being … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Moments: Part 2

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

You, my dear reader, might think that when life-changing stuff like this happens that it would be so easy to meet God in prayer on retreat,but it was not. I struggled to stay present. A couple of times I fell asleep. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Falling in Love

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

How can I go off-grid for eight days while our priest was away? I had heard that the Jesuit Spirituality Apostolate of Vancouver was offering another eight-day retreat. I considered going, but I’m one of the churchwardens who, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Am Enough

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

When someone expresses their love for me, I wonder, what did I do to deserve it? What have I become that evokes the appreciation of others? Then, unconsciously, I set out to do more of that, be more of that. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Coming Home

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Sometimes I feel likeevery part of me’s beenflung up in the airand caughtin slow motion floating, swirlingand falling leisurelydown to earth. Transitions are hard. Departures and arrivals unsettle me.I have to let it be and wait with You until all these parts of mefall … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, community, compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Less

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

I feel gratefulon sunny dayswhen more is given than I hoped for or imagined. But not so much on days that are less than great,with tedious moments and stress,disappointmentsand sadnessI can’t escape. I want to change the channel,change the scenery,change everyone … Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Aging, autism, compassion, Poetry, Reflections, Songs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments