Category Archives: Prayer

How God Waits

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

On Monday I participated in a one-day silent prayer retreat with friends using last week’s post as our guide. I listened to Steve Bell sing Lenten Lands and a feeling of hope rose up in me. God has turned the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mystical, Prayer, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged Christchurch, Coco Love Alcorn, collage, Esther Hizsa, Isaiash 30:15-18, Lenten Lands, Malcolm Guite, New Zealand, prayer retreat, Ruth Monette, shootings, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, The River | 2 Comments

DIY Prayer Retreat #13: A Lenten Retreat

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Here is a Lenten retreat outline that came out a contemplative evening I facilitated at Tenth Church last week. The Lectio guide is adapted from Living from the Heart and used with permission from SoulStream. For this retreat, it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Prayer, Prayer Retreat Outline, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Benjamin Balázs, consolation, David G.Benner, desolation, Esther Hizsa, Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong, Eurasian blue tit, Green Valley, Ignatius of Loyola, Invitation to a Journey, Isaiah 30:15-18, John O'Donohue, Lamentations 3:22-23, Lectio Divina, lent, Lenten Lands, Living from the Heart, Malcolm Guite, Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer, Pisut Konepun, Prodigal Son, Robert Mulholland, SoulStram, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, Tenth Church, waiting | 2 Comments

Making Peace with My Addictions

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Dan Harris, a co-anchor for Good Morning America, got his studio audience to meditate for sixty seconds. Some amazing love mischief, eh? Many people try meditating but give up because they can’t stop the distractions. Harris explains that we don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 10% Happier, addictions, centering prayer, Cynthia Bourgeault, Dan Harris, Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, Isaiah 30:15, meditation, Open Mind Open Heart, Overeating, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 2 Comments

An Invitation to Pray Naked in Front of a Full-Length Mirror

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

I think it is important to pray naked in front of a full-length mirror sometimes, especially when you are full of loathing for your body. Maybe you think you are too heavy. Maybe you have never liked the way your … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged apples, Esther Hizsa, François Clemmons, Fred Rogers, Galatians 5:22, Henry Hemming, Matthew 3:8, Officer Clemmons, Philippians 1:6, spiritual director Burnaby, stick person in front of mirror, Tsahi Levent-Levi, Won't You Be My Neighbor? | 5 Comments

Sometimes We Want Vengeance Too

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

When I look at this painting of Jesus’ rejection in Nazareth by James Tissot, I see a lot of anger. I can understand why. When Jesus read those beloved words from Isaiah 61 about the Spirit of the Lord being on … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged #anger, Brian Zahnd, compassion, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 61:1-3, James Tissot, Jesus reads from the scroll, Luke 4:14-21, nonviolence, Poverbs 17:17, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, vengeance | 3 Comments

God Expands My World

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

My world’s gotten small. It happened so subtly, I hardly noticed. But now that I’m aware of it, I can see signs of shrinkage–not caring that I don’t care, taking things personally, being angry about something because of its effect … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Caroline, Doctrine of Discovery, Esther Hizsa, James Finley, Kairos Blanket Exercise, Learning to Pray, Merton's Palace to Nowhere, residential schools, Rod Janz, small black bird, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Truth and Reconciliation | Leave a comment

Calls to Prayer

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Notice what you notice. You’ve heard me say that countless times in my book and blog. It’s become a contemplative practice for me ever since I prayed the Ignatian Exercises in 2012-13. I notice experiences that warm my heart. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Homelessness, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged bellw, David L. Fleming SJ, Esther Hizsa, Hold On, just.Luc, Mayor Hurley, Monica Brown, New Year's Resolutions, Ruth Monette, Soul of Christ, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, uroburos, warming centres, warming shelters | 3 Comments

DIY Retreat #12: Welcoming the New Year

Posted on December 29, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

This retreat was adapted from one prepared by Mei Chang, a SoulStream partner who is a spiritual director and retreat facilitator with a heart to offer contemplative spaces in urban areas. Instructions on how to plan a personal or group retreat … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Prayer Retreat Outline, Reflections | Tagged Alice Popkorn, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 3:14-17, Joshua 4:1-9, little*star, Mei Chang, New Year, Peter, Reaching Out, Sitting in Silence, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, stones | 3 Comments

Advent III: Mystery and Wonder

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Instead of the usual Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, I have chosen different words for each week in Advent this year. I spent a few hours on my last silent retreat gazing at the icon, Pantokrator: Jesus, Creator and Saviour … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Advent III, Ann Green, Ecclesiastes 11:5, Esther Hizsa, Luke 1:28, Pantokrator, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, Trevlig tredje advent! | 1 Comment

Loving Myself for God’s Sake

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Am I being greedy? I pushed the question aside, but it kept coming back. Should I really be co-facilitating both offerings of Living from the Heart that will be held in B.C.’s Lower Mainland in 2019? Even though I had … Continue reading →