Category Archives: compassion

Love Finds an Opening

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

As I continued to keep watch, I noticed a calmness here, a sadness there, delights and disappointments. But nothing wanted to be written about. I told a friend about my day helping at our church’s thrift shop. “I was standing … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Homelessness, Reflections, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged Burnaby Food Bank, Cameron Elementary School, Covenant House, deckerme, Dixon Transition Society, Doctors Without Borders, Esther Hizsa, Matthew 13:1-9, Ryan Dickey, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, sprouting, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, Thrift Shop, Union Gospel Mission, watching | 2 Comments

Keep Watching

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I lean my head against Love’s chest,match the rhythm of Her breath,and enter the darkness. The light hurts my eyes. I see what others have done thatI haven’t.I notice habits I have thatthey don’t.I watch myself lose myselfdisappearand want a world with … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, False Self, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged blackberries, Ed Dahl, Esther Hizsa, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Krista Tippett, Moonbeams, My Grandmother's Hands, On Being, Resmaa Menakem, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

Dark Thoughts

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I know the dark thoughtsthat keep you awake at night It can’t be true.But what if it is? There is no peaceturning one wayor the other. This is too much for you to bear, my love. Come inside.Let me wrap … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Dark NIght, Eric Verleene., Esther Hizsa, Matthew Kane, Psalm 131:2, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. John of the Cross, Steve Bell, Summer Saturday Moon, Teresa of Avila, The Dark Night of the Soul | 4 Comments

Love Asks for More

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

Love always asks more of us.–Wendy J. MacLean Love always asks more of us. Love didn’t ask me to say yes to everything.Love asked me why I wanted to. Love didn’t ask me to shove my fear aside and trust.Love … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Ephesians 5:2, Esther Hizsa, I Corinthians 13, Ivan Rusyn, love, Luke 15:11-31, Mary Hynes, Micah 6:8, Mother Teresa, Oliver Twist, On Small Wings, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tapestry, Theophilos Papadopoulos, Ukraine, Wendy J. MacLean | Leave a comment

Hiding Places

Posted on June 24, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

You may be wondering how the little girl at the window is doing. She’s still there and let me know she kind of liked meeting up with her younger fearless self. As I thought about her, I realized my fearful … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Esther Hizsa, Ezekiel 34:11-12, Found me, Funkybug, Islamophobia, Joy Is Measurable, Luke 8:16, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, To Yumnah with love, YCCI | 2 Comments

A Kingdom Tale

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕺𝖓𝖊 WHEREIN the King proclaims that all taxes are forthwith suspended. In return for his generosity, the King requires that all his subjects love one another–including their enemies. The Everyday Pilgrim, who lives in this magical land, is filled … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Art of Spiritual Direction, Dorothe, Esther Hizsa, John 14:34-35, Living from the Heart, Lynn D. Rosentrater, Pixabay, Pxhere, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, unnamed terror | 8 Comments

The Little Girl at the Window

Posted on May 27, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

“I feel so vulnerable,” I said to my spiritual director on the day I clicked publish. “Even though I sense from God and others that my writing is significant, something in me feels the risk of putting it out there … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories, Writing | Tagged Dance, Esther Hizsa, Marja Bergen, Matthew 5:14-16, Ride Your Dreams, Songs that wil hug your heart, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, victortsu | 5 Comments

The Gift

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

“Love you,” one of my beloveds said. I held these two wordsin disbelief and wonder.I wasn’t expecting a hug goodbyeor even a glance back.That didn’t meanI wasn’t hoping for it.Now, I was holding the giftI’d wanted for so long. For … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Burnaby Mountain, Esther Hizsa, Hug the Mountain, Louise Docker, Love Heart, pattern of sunshine on stone wall, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, spodzone, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Sunlight, Trans Mountain Pipeline, trust | 2 Comments

Honouring Our Elders

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

We humans are the young ones,the last to be createdlong days after the earth, mountains, seas, and trees. What might we learn from our elders whoawaken us with birdsong,feed us with nuts and berries, comfort us with their soft fur, enliven … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Creation, Justice, Reflections | Tagged Braiding Sweetgrass, Chrissy Wainwright, Diet for a New America, Earth Day, Esther Hizsa, FarbenfroheWuderwelt, flowers, Food Revolution Summit, hummingbird, John Robbins, Nick Kenrick, Ocean Robbins, Old growth forest, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Sitka Spruce, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Sassen, Wheat | Leave a comment

Resurrection Is Personal

Posted on April 17, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

Resurrectionisn’t just about living forever.It’s about living nowand how we pick up our cross,go through deathand becomea new revised version of ourselves.Resurrection is personal. This Easter, I entered the tombafter denying Christ in me three times.Three times I was Judas. … Continue reading →