Category Archives: Lent

A Meditation for These Uncertain Times

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Pause with me. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then take another. Continue to breathe slowly and deeply. Notice where your body feels tense and send your next breath there . . . to your shoulders, neck, … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Adriene Mishler, anjan58, Artotem, Blue Skies of Scottsdale, Christine Valters Paintner, coracle, David Wise, Dru Bloomfield, Esther Hizsa, Giving Hands, It is well with my soul, Lamentations 3:22-23, Mike Prince, Nashville Cell Phone Choir, Parker J. Palmer, Pema Chodron, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, uncertainty | 1 Comment

Covid-19

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

How are you doing in the midst of this world-wide pandemic? Finding a new normal eludes us daily. We all are all experiencing losses of one kind or another. It’s surreal. My days have been occupied by Zoom meetings and … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Albert Anker, Christine Valters Paintner, Covid 19, Esther Hizsa, Melissa Hillier, Metropolitan Opera, Prachatai, Sleeping girl, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, Zoom | 2 Comments

Even When

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

I’m here as promised. I have lots of time but nothing I want to write about. I’m waiting, listening, remembering that You always come through. We’ve done three hundred and ninety-five blog posts together, and You’ve never let me down. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Writing | Tagged Covid 19, Denis Fournier, Doug Greenberg, Eastern Phoebe, Esther Hizsa, Into the Silent Land, Marco Verch, Martin Laird, persevere, Richard Rohr, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Universal Christ | Leave a comment

Being Counted

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

“I talked to a nurse practitioner about my gastric reflux,” I said to my spiritual director. “I changed my diet, don’t eat after supper and raised the head of our bed. And that’s not all I’ve been doing to care … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Mindfulness, Mystical, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Être homme, body, c'est précisément être responsable, Community meal, Esther Hizsa, Five Contemplations, Ignatian Spirituality, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Jean-François Millet, Millet, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, The Potato Planters, Thich Nhat Hanh, Vassilis Londos, vegan | 4 Comments

I Am Both

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

It’s Ash Wednesday. Tonight our priest will press her thumb into ashes and impose the truth of our mortality on my forehead. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” Pastor Ruth will say. When I think about it, fear kicks in … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Ash Wednesday, Dust and breath, Esther Hizsa, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:19, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes | 2 Comments

Ash Wednesday

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Pilgrimage Ash Wednesday He’s on the road waiting for me today we begin a forty-day walk to Jerusalem I lace up my shoes and follow from a safe distance but it’s bound to happen His eyes will … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poetry, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Ash Wednesday, Brian Whelan, Lenten Poem, Lenten Reflection, Luke 9:51, pilgrimage, Pilgrimage of Sight, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, The Way | 1 Comment

On Each of My Risings

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

The deacon poured last year’s blessed oils onto the wood, newspaper and palm crosses. She lit them on fire and our Easter Vigil began. We read stories from the Hebrew scriptures, gospels and epistles, as God’s people have done for … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Lent, Reflections | Tagged Bart-s, Esther Hizsa, Flames, Fuel Radio, I Get To Project, Jenny Konkin, Rod Janz, Romans 8:14-15, sk_vel, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sunrise, Wholeway House | 1 Comment

Beginning to Forgive

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.” –Luke 23:34 (CEV) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged Brad Jersak, Bury the Hatchet, Christ on the Cross, Christ washing disciples feet, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, CWR magazine, Dirck van Baburen, Esther Hizsa, forgiveness, John 13:1-17, Luke 23:34, Matthew 18:21-22, Sonnenstrahl, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Women Who Run With the Wolves | 2 Comments

Having Tea with My Rage

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

I knew I needed to forgive, so my friend loaned me the book Women Who Run With the Wolves. I turned to the chapter on forgiveness. Near the end of it, Clarissa Pinkola Estés outlines the stages of forgiveness. But before I … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Lent, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Bentley Tea Cup, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Esther Hizsa, forgiveness, Galatians 5:1, rage, reconciliation, snap713, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Welcoming Prayer, Women Who Run With the Wolves | 2 Comments

A Holy Place

Posted on April 5, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Of course I told my spiritual director what happened, and she listened compassionately as I talked and cried. She asked me to name my feelings and notice how they felt in my body. I told her that I felt betrayed, … Continue reading →