Category Archives: Poetry

Embracing the Power I Have

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

If Jesus were my spiritual director and had read Becoming What I Eat and Drink, he wouldn’t ask me about my desire to be Mr. Rogers. He would ask me about the agitation I felt watching that scene from Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections, Stories | Tagged cautious kitty, courage, Esther Hizsa, Jeff Imbach, jridgewayphotography, Living from the Heart, Probably Tomfoolery, Riik@mctr, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Great Realisation | Leave a comment

Remaking History

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

We were about to make Canadian history: the first Living from the Heart course day on Zoom. Audrey, Brent and I had put in extra hours rearranging the material, learning how to do break out rooms, and prepping the participants. … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Week, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Coleman Barks, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 48:6-7, Just right she sighed, Living from the Heart, Rumi, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Corey, Tara Brach, The Essential Rumi, The Guest House, the trance of anxiety | 2 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

What My Heart Wanted to Hear

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

A friend asked if I had written any poems about loneliness. I hadn’t. Then I listened to Brad Aaron Modlin’s poem “What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade” and Pádraig Ó Tuama talk about it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Alice Popkorn, Brad Aaron Modlin, Daniel Ladinsky, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, Loneliness, Lonely Leaf, Love Poems from God, Mrs Nelson, On Being, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poetry Unbound, Rob, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade, With that Moon Language | Leave a comment

You Are Mine

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Worry is the first sign. I’m attached to an outcome. What if the bus is late? What if I get to the airport and the planes don’t fly and the buses don’t run and I’m stuck at the Kelowna airport … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Reflections | Tagged all shall be well, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 43:1, Joe Houghton, Julian of Norwich, Matthew 28:29, Pieta House, Radical Compassion, RAIN, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susan von Struensee, Tara Brach, Welcoming Prayer, worry | Leave a comment

Advent IV: Say Yes

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Christmas, community, Poetry, Reflections, Songs | Tagged 1 Kings 19:11-13, Advent, Christopher Bulle, Esther Hizsa, Lois Shuford, Ready My Heart, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell | 2 Comments

Advent III: Retreat

Posted on December 13, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Three cancelled appointments and a no show at Bible study gave me the breathing room I needed. I know that was You looking after me. Sometimes You’re about as quiet as a three-year-old trying to sneak up on mommy. Then … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Advent, Bark Cabin Natural Area, Bowen Island, Esther Hizsa, John Pavlovitz, Josh Kelahan, Low: An Honest Advent Devotional, Nicholas A Tonelli, prayer retreat, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

Into the Light

Posted on November 1, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Life has slowed down. My books have arrived; my calendar isn’t jammed. I can linger over meals and leave my phone in my pocket when I walk to the store. I shed an old skin in the rough darkness. After … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Stories, Writing | Tagged Chris B scorpkris, David Wilcox, Esther Hizsa, Galatians 5:1, hand in Wild Grass, Into the light, lloyd Morgan, Mary Oliver, shedding an old skin, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Step into Your Skin, stepping into the light, The Forest | 2 Comments

The Narrow Space Given

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This fall life has been packed tightly, jobs tucked into every spare moment. I write emails on the fly, make phone calls while I walk. I have to keep moving. It isn’t just that I have more commitments than usual. … Continue reading →