Category Archives: Ignatian Spirituality

Time for Rising

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Lift your head and dry your eyes. Time for rising. –Steve Bell, Bethany in the Morning During Lent, I tried unsuccessfully to refrain from zoning out. Many evenings I succumbed to temptation and played Scrabble on my tablet or snacked while watching … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Ignatian Spirituality, Mindfulness, Overeating, Reflections | Tagged Abbey of the Arts, Bethany in the Morning, Christine Valters Paintner, consolation, desolation, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spirituality, Mindfulness, Raising of Lazarus, Richard Rohr, SoulStream, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, Sunrise, Susanne Nilsson, Ted, The Miracle of Mindfulness, Thich Naht Hanh | Leave a comment

Waking Up

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

I want to be fully awake to God. I’d like to live so aware of being in Christ that I rely on nothing other than God for my security or identity. A bird held by a single thread is still not … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Ignatian Spirituality, Reflections | Tagged A Rocha, addictions, Anthony de Mello, attachments, awareness, Breathing Underwater, David L. Clough, David L. Fleming SJ, Eating Peaceably, Esther Hizsa, Ignatius of Loyola, James Finley, On Animals, Regent College, Richard Rohr, Simon Bleasdale, Soul of Christ, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the Soul, Two Standards, Vancouver School of Theology, Veganism, Wake up | 1 Comment

I Shouted

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

I sit by the roadside in Jericho begging. A crowd goes by and I ask, “What’s happening?” They tell me, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Without thinking, I shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Ceridwen, Eric Gill, Esther Hizsa, Georges Rouault, gospel contemplation, Less organic waste, Luke 18:35-43, more healthy food, Psalm 116:2, ReFood, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 4 Comments

Silently Blooming

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

It’s this time of year, when the nights are long and the days cold and rainy, that I begin to accompany people through the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises Retreat in Daily Life. These retreatants embark on a nine-month journey with Christ, asking … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Audrey Assad, Christmas Cactus, Early Bud, Esther Hizsa, I Shall Not Want, Ignatian Spirituality, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Lonely, Michael.PortrayingLife.com, Psalm 23:1, R. Halfpaap, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

A Little More Freedom, Trust and Grace

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

I loved the idea that, despite my misguided actions, God saw my intent and looked upon me with kindness. But it didn’t take me long to realize that it was God who brought those actions to my attention in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Reflections, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged Community Builder of the Year, Douglas College, Ed Dahl, Esther Hizsa, Father Elton Fernandes, Jacquoline Martin, Luke 12:29-31, Martha Soukup, Notice what you notice, ReFood, relax, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, volunteering | 1 Comment

Living Out of Our Stories

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

“We live out of our stories,” Monty Williams, SJ said to our little group of Ignatian directors. We listened intently to this wise, amiable priest who was born in Guyana seven decades ago. Father Williams explained that each of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Droplet, Esther Hizsa, Forlorn, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Monty Williams SJ, Regis College, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, wan mohd, Water II | 1 Comment

Saved

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

O Sapientia I cannot think unless I have been thought, Nor can I speak unless I have been spoken. I cannot teach except as I am taught, Or break the bread except as I am broken. O Mind behind the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged 8 day retreat, Annunciation, Esther Hizsa, Fra Angelico, Franz Mayer, Malcolm Guite, O Sapientia, Plum leaves, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Nativity | Leave a comment

Live the Question

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

The most striking image I had during my eight-day retreat came when I prayed with the Nativity. After the Holy Child was born, Joseph delivered the placenta. He held this once vital organ in his hands and didn’t know what … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Stories | Tagged abhijit chendvankar, Alan Levine, Closed until further notice, Esther Hizsa, Father John O'Brien, Gerard van Honthorst, Ignatian retreat, Rainer Maria Rilke, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, That is the question, The Nativity | Leave a comment

Sin, Hell and Roller Derby

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

“I’d like you to pray with #50 in the Spiritual Exercises: the sin of the angels,” my director instructed on the third day of my eight-day retreat. He also assigned three more prayer periods focussing on sin and hell, mine … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 8 day retreat, Angel Reloaded, Carlo Scherer, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Parks Canada, Queen of Peace, roller derby, Sea-to-Sky Sirens, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 2 Comments

Come Away

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

On July 6, I woke up oh darn early, packed my breakfast and lunch and kissed Fred goodbye. I took Gracie (my bike) onto the Skytrain then bus to Horseshoe Bay. At 7:40 am, I clicked into her pedals and … Continue reading →