Category Archives: Poetry

Ash Wednesday

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

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

Posted in Lent, Poetry, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Ash Wednesday, Brian Whelan, Esther Hizsa, Lenten Poem, Lenten Reflection, Luke 9:51, Meeting Jesus in John, pilgrimage, Pilgrimage of Sight, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, The Way | 1 Comment

The Word Became Flesh

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Emmanuel when Jesus came he didn’t sneak in through the back door of poverty selling magic tricks for applause no Jesus came poor entered every day of every life and never left The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Emmanuel, Esther Hizsa, John 1:14, Nativity, Paul Kline, sneak in through the back door, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Star Walkers, violscaper | Leave a comment

Advent I: Hope

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Hope God, you come like the persistent widow and knock on my door. You keep knocking, wearing me down with your pleas until I do right. You come like the friend at midnight calling me out of bed to give my neighbour what they … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Poetry | Tagged 5-8, Esther Hizsa, First Sunday in Advent, Luke 11, Luke 18:1-8, Mark 13:35-37, Matthew 25:1-13, Psalm 23, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, Ten Virgins 07, Waiting for the Word | Leave a comment

A Prayer for When You’re in the Middle of the Story

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. –Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) God, you promised to help me, your right hand guiding, with a cautious squeeze or a confident tug. … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Alone, Andrei Niemimäki, Banana Land, Chiquita Banana, cold, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 41:13, Luis Alveart, Psalm 10:1, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

Love Mischief

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

God’s been up to some love mischief. I have three pieces of evidence. Last Sunday I preached on the lectionary readings for the day. I was captivated by an image I found in Psalm 116 which said that God inclines … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit | Tagged Cima da Conegliano, Esther Hizsa, Luc De Leeuw, Psalm 116, Quasimime, SoulStream, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wednesday Lunch Club | Leave a comment

Flies and Cold Fish

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

I’ve been doing too much, thinking too much. I’m so full of thoughts about what I have to do, my prayer times are inundated with them. I try to push them away, but each one promises to be the thought that will … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Prayer | Tagged Alone in the woods, Another foggy morning, Ascension Day, Carlo Scherer, Daniel Ladinsky, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, Jan L. Richardson, Just Sit There Right Now, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stay, The Gift | 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

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 →

Posted in Lent, Poetry | Tagged Ash Wednesday, Colin Paterson, Esther Hizsa, Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P., Palm cross, Preparing ashes, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

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 →