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Category Archives: Poverty of Spirit
I Wonder What’s Under
As I listen to directees share their struggles and listen to my own, I notice that there’s a strata to our feelings and desires. Like an archaeological dig, the top layer–the first one we experience–gets our attention. It’s the hurt right under … Continue reading →
This Hero’s Journey
I love being the hero. I want to be the one that fixes the problem or has the answer. If someone is in great need, I find myself ruminating about how that need can be met. Meanwhile, if someone else meets that need, … Continue reading →
Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club
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Tagged Anne Yungwirth, awareness, Esther Hizsa, Free Store, hero's journey, Joan of Arc, New Life Community Church, Psalm 121, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Transformation, Wednesday Lunch Club
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3 Comments
What Am I Waiting For?
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
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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
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3 Comments
What a Good Person Looks Like
I left my outer robe at the bottom of the sycamore and climbed into its branches. I had heard Jesus was coming this way and wanted to see what a good person looked like. Up in the tree with my bare … Continue reading →
Posted in Homelessness, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged Bill Barber, Canada Day, Carmel Hill, David L. Fleming SJ, Esther Hizsa, Jessie Wilcox Smith, John 21:20, Little Flower Monastery, Matthew 27:43, Moonbeams, Psalm 22:8, Soul of Christ, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Victor Chapa, Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus Tree
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1 Comment
Cracked Open: Part Two
After the pharisee listed my faults publicly and loudly, I began to weep. It was all true. I prayed, “Lord God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” My heart cracked open. I was now painfully aware of the extent to which … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged Christ washing disciples feet, Dirck van Baburen, Esther Hizsa, Father Lawrence Lew, hope, John 13: 1-11, Kevin Lee, Luke 7:38-50, Newcomers Choir, Publican aand the Pharisee, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, suscipe, Take and Receive, Ted
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5 Comments
Cracked Open: Part One
“I’d like you to begin the retreat by praying with Psalm 139,” said Edmund, the young Jesuit who was my spiritual director for the eight days I spent alone with God. My room at Carmel Hill Formation House in Deroche opened … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged California Golden Poppy, California Poppy, Carmel Hill, Deroche, eight day prayer retreat, Esther Hizsa, Father Alwyn, Helen Chua Tiampo, Ignatian prayer retreat, Little Flower Monastery, Luke 18:9-14, Nan C. Merrill, Philip Bouchard, prayer retreat, Psalm 139, Psalm 51:17, psalm 91, Psalms for Praying, Publican and the Pharisee Icon, spiritual director Burnaby, Thea Rose
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6 Comments
Come
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
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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
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6 Comments
Brave Thoughts
So I went as I was to the annual gathering of SoulStream, our dispersed contemplative community. In an afternoon session, Andrea, one of SoulStream’s founding partners, read this quote from Gregory Boyle‘s Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. You … Continue reading →
Posted in Overeating, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Andrea Kastner, Dave Gill, Esther Hizsa, Gail Koombes, ginger snap bake-off, Greg Boyle S.J., kinship, Shauna Gill, Song of Songs 2;14, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stuart Williams, success, Tattoos on the Heart, Thorny Beauty
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2 Comments
Naked and Unashamed
God’s been listening to my thoughts again–not just the chatter in my head but the deep sighs of my heart. You know those dreams where you’re scrambling to make something happen, it’s not coming together, and time’s running out? I’ve experienced that now … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation, Overeating, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Songs, Stories
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Tagged Abreha and Atsbeha Church, Adam and Eve, All Life, ashamed, Esther Hizsa, Garden of Eden, John Bell, naked, Road Fun, Ron Guest, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Take Me as I Am
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3 Comments
Longing for More Life
If you’ve read my posts lately, you may have noticed that God has been gently widening my view and inviting me “to see all people as my kin, all living beings as my flesh.”* As I do this, I’ve been challenged to turn from self-interest … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation, False Self, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections
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Tagged Clowns and Characters, Corinthians 3:17-18, Esther Hizsa, Eyes of My Heart, Gail Purdy, glory, leg hold traps, Mother Goose, Nancy Bailey, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Coquitlam, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Unfolding LIght
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