Category Archives: Poverty of Spirit

A Long, Loving Look

Posted on May 17, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

 Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him and asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Aging, community, compassion, Humour, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Advent 4: The Star Appears

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Esther Hizsa

Blessed are you,agreeing to stand still long enoughto let your eyes adjust to the darknessuntil the starlight begins to appear,the dawning of God’s promises.–Kate Bowler, A Blessing for Open Arms Be still, my friend, and breathe with me.Let us open … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, compassion, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Last Coins

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Esther Hizsa

I hold back, make myself small. Maybe no one will notice, no one will hear the clink of my measly offering. A part of me scoffs,“Why bother?It won’t make a difference to the church.Why not have one last meal?” I finger the coins in … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Patience to Wait

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Esther Hizsa

Do you have the patience to waittill your mud settles and the water is clear?Can you remain unmovingtill the right action arises by itself?― Lao tzu, Chinese philopsopher, 6th century BC   El-roi, the God who sees me sees me trying … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Manna

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Esther Hizsa

Even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. –Psalm 139:2 (MSG) I notice that when the details of my life are attended toI feel calmer.Then I think, But I shouldn’t need that to be calm.You know what I’m thinking,and … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wounded Goodness

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Esther Hizsa

Ignatius asks us to see how Jesus on the cross identifies with wounded creation and accepts the task of reparation, healing and transforming the damage we have been doing to ourselves and our planet. Ignatius would say Jesus loves us … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Week, Lent, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mistake

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Esther Hizsa

And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.–Rainer Maria Rilke It seemed like a good idea at the time.Even afterwardsI could see the gift in it until I saw it through another person’s eyes. … Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, compassion, Mindfulness, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Songs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

State of Emergency

Posted on August 25, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Fires out of control Smoky skies, scratchy throat Bags packed and ready to evacuate Lord, have mercy.  Diagnosis Prognosis Chemo Side effects 70-80 percent successful She’s the one the doctor’s talking to Lord, have mercy. Clutching a cardboard sign on … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Homelessness, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

How Sin Is Both Something and No Thing

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

This week I offer you two quotes about sin from Turning to the Mystics podcast on Julian of Norwich. Mirabai Starr, who translated The Showings of Julian of Norwich, said: “’Sin has not a particle of substance. It is no … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I Want to See

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“If a man [or woman] born blind were told about the nature of the colour yellow, he would understand absolutely nothing, no matter how much instruction he received. Since he never saw these colours, nor their like, he would not … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment