Category Archives: Lent

O Sacred Friend Now Wounded

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Now you are lifted up and alone, O Sacred Friend. You are every person who has ever been condemned, battered, betrayed, or abandoned. You bear all our suffering and every consequence for the suffering we caused. “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent | Tagged Crucifixion 2, Esther Hizsa, Jesus down from the cross, Luke 23:34, Michael D. O'Brien, O Sacred Head, Rene, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Dark Night of the Soul | 1 Comment

A Smelly, Sweet Encounter

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Perhaps it wasn’t until Jesus and his disciples sat down to eat their evening meal that they noticed the unpleasant aroma of street and feet. I can imagine them all, tired from the day, edgy and irritated with each other, avoiding eye … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent | Tagged Dirck van Baburen, dirty feet, Esther Hizsa, foot washing, Jesus Washing the Apostles' Feet, John 13, LIving Flame of Love, Maundy Thursday, rbairdpccam, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. John of the Cross, Tassoman. flames | 1 Comment

Hosanna!

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

How do we respond to such an exquisite display of love? Jesus, seated on a donkey, resolutely rides into Jerusalem knowing he will die there. Both he and the saint who is showing him the way are holding a scroll. The word … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Week, Lent | Tagged Einzug Christi in Jerusalem by Meister der Palastkapelle 1150., Esther Hizsa, Jerusalem, LIving Flame of Love, Palm Frond, Palm Sunday, Samuel John, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. John of the Cross, Triumphal Entry | 2 Comments

The Cost of Being Known

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

“What was the most memorable meal you ever had?” a friend asked everyone at the dinner table. One by one each person described an experience of eating extravagantly prepared food in an exquisite setting. But it was hard for me to listen. … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Alan Torrence, Esther Hizsa, Fancy Dinner, Godspeed, Live Godspeed, love, Matt Canlis, Megan Yungwirth, Nick, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Who Am I? | Leave a comment

Empty

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Empty Before you go to bed, shake the dust off your feet. Open your front door and –with a shoe in each hand– smack those soles together. Like a TV preacher, tell those demons: “Be gone!” Before you go to … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit | Tagged A Good Night's Sleep, bed, Cameron Elementary School, Clement Hurd, Colleen Butterley, Erika Wittlieb, Esther Hizsa, Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown, Roxee Forrest, Seán Ó Domhnaill, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

I Will Love. End of Story.

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

A pharisee once asked Jesus which commandment is the greatest. Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Reflections | Tagged Audrey Watson, Cirque Peak, Esther Hizsa, Frederick Buechner, jamelah e, Matthew 22:36-39, Peter Hiett, Philppians 1:6, Progressive Housing Society, Secrets in the Dark, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, Third date with immortality | Leave a comment

Guides from Beyond

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

“What are you feeling?” I ask people when they come for spiritual direction. If they’re experiencing a “negative” emotion, like anger, sadness or disgust, they often want to manage or get rid of it. They don’t like feeling that way. But the wise poet Rumi … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged B, big six, Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, Rumi, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stefani Woods, The Guest House, Welcome Home, welcoming emotions | 2 Comments

Loving Certain People: Part 2

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

This Lent I am taking you with me on my journey to love people who annoy or anger me. In last week’s post, Rowan Williams, Abba Moses, Hafiz and Jesus invited me to move from judgment to humility and compassion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 紫流, Dog & Cat, Esther Hizsa, Helen Haden, Luke 23:34, Matthew 5:43-44, Smile for the camera, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

Loving Certain People

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

“I love mankind. It’s people I can’t stand,” exclaimed Linus Van Pelt decades ago in the cartoon strip Peanuts. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say, “It’s certain people I can’t stand.” When I see certain people do things that annoy … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged Archbishop of Canterbury, ASIM CHAUDHURI, Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, I love mankind, Linus Van Pelt, love, Peanuts, Rowan Williams, Sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, two friends. Austin Kleon, Where God Happens, With that Moon Language | 3 Comments

That Much

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

That Much The dried palm of my life burns to ash. You mark me like Cain. A wet cross on my head says plain as day: I NEED Y O U I wipe it off. I don’t want to need you that … Continue reading →