Category Archives: Mystical

What Am I Waiting For?

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

As I mentioned last week, stillness is not something I easily gravitate toward. When I do try to be still, fleeting and few are the moments when I’m “walking on water,” blissfully free from distraction. Even though I know (and teach) that God is … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystical, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Another day in paradise, Anthony de Mello, Arne Hulstein, Candles, Carlo Scherer, centering prayer, Christian Exercises in Eastern Form, Esther Hizsa, Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Imago Dei, John the Baptist, Sadhana, silent prayer, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 3 Comments

Peace, Be Still

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Mark’s gospel says that one evening Jesus got into a boat with his disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. He was exhausted after a day of teaching and healing and fell asleep on a cushion at the back of … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Mystical, Reflections, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey, Esther Hizsa, Jeff Imbach, Jesus calms storm, McCrimmon Publishing, Soren Kierkegaard, SoulStream, SoulStream founders, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Imbach, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | 2 Comments

Walking on Water

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Jesus sends me off to pray in my boat of words. I begin to row. Even though I know he’s gone off to the hills, I look for him beside me, remember our hands touching, while he slept in the stern. … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystical, Poetry, Prayer | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, centering prayer, Contemplative Outreach, contemplative prayer, Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, Living from the Heart, Matthew 14:22-33, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Ted, then, Walking on water | 1 Comment

Come

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

I returned from my eight-day retreat carefully cradling my tender heart. In the coming weeks, I will talk about what happened. It’s changed how I see and hear God, myself and scripture. Yesterday I read Matthew 7:21-27 and heard it in a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Henri Nouwen, Justin Kern, kingdom of God, Matthew 7;21-27, Pescadero, Rembrandt, Rolling Tempest, Show Me the Way, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, tender heart, The Return of the Prodigal Son, vulnerability | 6 Comments

Shimmering Delight

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

In March I was able to get away to Bowen Island for a few days of solitude. Often when I retreat there, I sit in the cottage watching the rain come and go. But this time it was sunny and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystical, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Baptism of Christ, boxer bob, Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Fr Lawrence Lew O.P., luke 3: 21 22, PT Money, Sparkling Water, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 2 Comments

Goodbye, Rob

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

On April 6 friend and mentor Rob Des Cotes passed into glory. Rob was a pastor, spiritual director and retreat leader as well as a husband, father, and grandfather, musician, writer and artist. Hearing God’s call to go deeper in contemplative … Continue reading →

Posted in Helpful Images, Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Rob Des Cotes, Stories | Tagged Chris Niekel, Donna Geissler, fear, God's love, Imago Dei Communities, immersed in God's love, leaky bucket, ocean of love, Psalm 139:18, Rob Des Cotes, Sandy Beach, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Waves, weakness | 1 Comment

There You Are

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Okay. Okay. I’m being still. I’m trying to pause between activities and regain my balance. But, I’ll be honest with you, God. It doesn’t feel like a lot’s happening here. I haven’t stopped overeating and Lent is nearly over. My heart … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mystical, Overeating, Stories | Tagged Apostles receiving Communion, Christ beside me, Esther Hizsa, Gary Hamblin, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, St. Patrick's Breastplate, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, Ted | Leave a comment

Glory Led Me Here

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

The last blossom on my Christmas cactus fell weeks ago. For forty days vibrant pink glory adorned the room where I pray, write, and offer spiritual direction. But now that glory is gone. I think of the Israelites. For forty years they beheld … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Mystical, Reflections | Tagged A Life of Being Having and Doing Enough, Anthony de Mello, Christmas Cactus, Esther Hizsa, glory, John 8:32, Kinshuk Sunil, Kite, Promised Land, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Coquitlam, this breath, Until now, Wayne Muller | 8 Comments

Enough

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

“My husband and I met with our financial advisor,” a friend said at a New Year’s Eve party. “He told us we’ve saved enough money, and we should start spending it.” After a life of carefully saving for retirement, she could hardly … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Mystical, Reflections | Tagged a lot of dollars, Ecclesiastes 4:6, enough, Esther Hizsa, Feather, Isaiah 62:1, Jim Champion, pile of money, Reynermedia, Richard Rohr, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Coquitlam | 1 Comment

This Annunciation

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

This Annunciation I was the angel chosen to greet the one with God in her womb. Light illuminated her face her hands her words light warm with wonder hushed held my soul yet no Fra Angelico will ever paint this annunciation … Continue reading →