Category Archives: Popular Posts

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 →

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The Other Side of the Line

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

After I got over the shock of discovering I’m one of “those people,” I began to wonder about the distinctions I make. What constitutes being “those people” anyway? We easily divide people into two kinds: life-giving people and life-draining people cup half-full people and cup … Continue reading →

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Holy Saturday

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Homeless they take him down from the cross his PUTcold body pierced PUTbruised mouth silenced PUTsoft eyes blind as he began now at end PUTwrapped in cloth strips PUTlaid in wrong place helpless God stone heaved tomb sealed sudden scream PUTmine guards curse push me PUT“Go home!” can’t have … Continue reading →

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Love Is a Risky Business

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

In the post Undoing My Life, I talked about a time when I kept expecting to be rejected but encountered love and acceptance instead. That experience was wonderful and scary. As the Rejected One, I protected my heart from the inevitable pain of being discovered … Continue reading →

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Caught in the Act

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

The religious leaders were ready to stone her. But Jesus defended the woman caught in the act of adultery. “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” he said. One by one … Continue reading →

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Hoodwinked

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

A colleague asked me if I’d like to offer spiritual direction for participants at an upcoming Ignatian retreat. As soon as I got her e-mail, I knew I wanted to say yes. I’ve done it before; I love listening to what happens in retreatants’ prayers … Continue reading →

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Epiphany

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Mid-November one lone blossom adorned my Christmas cactus. By Advent it was fuller than ever. It continued to blossom during the Christmas season and into Epiphany. Directees commented on it when they came, and I sat beside this bush, which was burning with … Continue reading →

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Christmas: As Is

Posted on December 25, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I wonder if Joseph was peeved when Mary, between contractions, ordered him to close the door then, as soon as he did, wanted it open again. I wonder if, in that chorus of angels, one or two sang flat and if some shepherds –feeling … Continue reading →

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God Desires Us

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

“You can’t catch the Macdonald bus here,” a man says to me at the VCC-Clark Skytrain Station in Vancouver. “You need to go up to Clark.” I hurry up Sixth Avenue. It’s early Saturday morning and I need to get to … Continue reading →

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Undoing My Life

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I’m still thinking about the “Oh, no!” I heard when a toy car went over the edge of the coffee table and crashed. I imagine that a lot actually, when I fear going over the edge of acceptance and falling into a pit of rejection. Many things–gaining weight, … Continue reading →

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