Category Archives: Homelessness

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

The Fourth Event

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

On Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost, the fourth big event chronicled in the New Testament. Christmas names the first one: the incarnation of Christ. God comes into our lives–into our joy and suffering. They called him Immanuel, “God with us.” Reading the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, community, Creation, Easter, Homelessness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Acts 10, Acts 2, acts of compassion, Amazing Grace, Daniel Ladinsky, David L. Fleming SJ, Dropping Keys, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, John 12:24, Luke 4:18-19, Patrick McFall, Pentecost, Soul of Christ, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Gift | Leave a comment

Ashes to Ashes

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“You are from dust and to dust you shall return,” Pastor Ruth says as she dips her thumb in the ashes and makes the sign of the cross on my forehead. Soon we will be scattering my nephew Lee’s ashes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Homelessness, Lent, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Ash Wednesday, Ashes, Ecclesiastes 3:20., Esther Hizsa, fentanyl, Jack Kerouac, John O'Donahue, Mark 10:17-27, meditation, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 17 Comments

Calls to Prayer

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Notice what you notice. You’ve heard me say that countless times in my book and blog. It’s become a contemplative practice for me ever since I prayed the Ignatian Exercises in 2012-13. I notice experiences that warm my heart. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Homelessness, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged bellw, David L. Fleming SJ, Esther Hizsa, Hold On, just.Luc, Mayor Hurley, Monica Brown, New Year's Resolutions, Ruth Monette, Soul of Christ, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, uroburos, warming centres, warming shelters | 3 Comments

A New Kind of Happy

Posted on September 14, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

It was raining and the forecast was for rain all week. I wouldn’t have minded if it was a typical week of writing, seeing directees, and going to the Wednesday Lunch Club, but all that was scheduled for the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Homelessness, Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Esther Hizsa, If you can't beat it, Karen O'Shannacery, Psalm 16:11, Society to End Homelessness, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Splash | 2 Comments

A Faithful Companion

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

See the whole universe, not only as something to love but as something that can love you back. –Pierre Teilhard de Chardin As many of you know, I have a Christmas cactus in the room where I pray, write, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Homelessness, Reflections | Tagged Alice Popkorn, B.C. Housing, Burnaby Now, Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness, Christmas Cactus, dgozgozz, Esther Hizsa, Lauren Boothby, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Psalm 27:14, Richard Rohr, seasons, Sitting in Silence, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

Tossed About

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

I think I’m doing fine until a miscommunication leads to a last-minute pick up from Sure Copy. Piles of photocopied class notes for the Living from the Heart course cover our dining room table. Hurriedly, I check, count, and paperclip each … Continue reading →

Posted in Homelessness, Ignatian Spirituality, Reflections, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged compassion, Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Leif Harboe, Living from the Heart, Pacific Ocean, Psalm 116:6, Scott Anderson, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, stormy sea, Wednesday Lunch Club | 2 Comments

When the Son of Man Comes

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Tuesday night I met a friend for coffee at Tim Horton’s. Just as I was leaving, a young man with a cardboard sign asked me for money. “Want a pair of socks?” I asked. “Sure,” he said and smiled. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Homelessness, Stories | Tagged Ancho, Esther Hizsa, Homeless Jesus on a bench, homelessness, Isaiah 43:1, Luke 18:8, Mark O'Rourke, Matthew 25:31-46, Progressive Housing Society, Society to End Homelessness, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 4 Comments

Christmas Spent

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

I didn’t intend to have an unsentimental Christmas. It just turned out that way. I enjoyed gatherings with friends and family, giving gifts of homemade granola, and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas again. But the tinsel and romance of the season left me … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Homelessness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, presents under the tree, Richard Rohr, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, vulnerability of God, Wednesday Lunch Club | 2 Comments

Praying in the Cracks

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Not that long ago, the idea of spending time alone with God in silence was not even on my radar. But God knew how much I needed this and invited me to “pray in the cracks.” This post was originally … Continue reading →