Category Archives: Prayer

A Blessing for When You’re in the Wilderness

Posted on March 10, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. —Matthew 4:1 (NIV) On the day the Spirit leads you into the wilderness,may you know it was a Friend that led you thereand that … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Aaron Schock, angel, Briton Rivièr, Cale Woodley, Esther Hizsa, lent, Lenten Prayer Practice, Matthew 4, Mt. Hope Cemetery, Psalm 63:1, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Temptation in the Wilderness, Time | 1 Comment

Redeemed

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

“I need your help,” I said to Fred who was barely awake. “I made a big mistake.” I drew back the curtains to let in the light. “You know that highchair at the church that I thought was too old … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Bruce Fingerhood, Cale Woodley, Coming Home, donds, Dumpster, Esther Hizsa, Henri Nouwen, jump for joy, Lenten retreat, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Time | Leave a comment

That’s What Love Does

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged 1 John 4:8, Deuteronomy 31:6, Ephesians 3:14-21, Esther Hizsa, Henri Nouwen, I love my father, Lenten Prayer Practice, Luke 15:11-31, Luke 19:11-27, Matthew 17:1-13, Matthew 7:7-11, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Yvette T. | 7 Comments

Before the Miracle

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

I close my eyes, enter into my imagination, and arrive at the wedding in Cana. I take it all in–joyful chatterolives and garlicky hummusdangling earrings and earnest facesfreshly baked bread and wafts of perfumethe earthen goblet in my hand. Who am … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Frans Francken the Younger, Ignatian prayer, Jan Evans, Lenten retreat, Nheyob, Psalm 139:7-8, Rembrandt, Saint James the Greater Catholic Church, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Return of the Prodigal Son, The Wedding at Cana | Leave a comment

Let God Love You

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

“You can always come home to God, and God can always be found wherever you are, right at the centre of your soul.” I heard Danielle Shroyer say in this podcast while I was making dinner one evening. “The purpose … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Birds on a Rainy Day, centering prayer, Contemplative Outreach, Danielle Shroyer, Esther Hizsa, Evolving Faith, Father Thomas Keating, Guard of the Heart, Hamed Al-Raisi, Heart Angel, Hummingbird Warrior, Macomb Paynes, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Welcoming Prayer | 4 Comments

Advent 4: Silence

Posted on December 16, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

As I began my four-day retreat last week, I became aware of how uncomfortable I was with the silence–especially in the evening when it was dark, and I couldn’t go for walk or gaze at the sea. I wanted something … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, autism, Christmas, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged abide, Carrie Newcomer, Christopher Jamison, Esther Hizsa, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Fr Richard Soo, Frank hb, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, John 15:1-15, O come o come Emmanuel, Parée, Parker J. Palmer, retreat, Silence, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 2 Comments

Advent 3: Restless

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” –Luke 9:58 (NRSVUE) I want to lay my head on the satisfactionof believing that … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Christmas, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged 071020, Advent, Confessions, Esther Hizsa, Kain Kalju, Luke 9:58, Matthew 11:28, Nativity, rest, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Augustine, Stephen Brent, Tamaki Sono, The Resless Sea | Leave a comment

Advent 2: Trust

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

Life is a succession of dyings and risings. At the center of the Eucharist, we proclaim, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again.”–Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, November 27, 2022 This morning I saw minuscule buds on my … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Christmas, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Advent, Candle 006, Center for Action and Contemplation, Christmas Cactus, Esther Hizsa, How the Light Comes, Jan L. Richardson, Jonathan Assink, Richard Rohr, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steven Severinghaus, the glory of dawn, worldoflard | Leave a comment

Advent 1: Touch

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I waited for You at the door of wordsbut they were little more thanletters on a pageundecipherable my feelings far away.Did I have any? I fidgeteddistractedpowerless. Then, through the locked door,You came. “Touch my face,” You said Lost feelingsfound tears. … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Christmas, compassion, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged And they found baby Jesus laying in a manger, Esther Hizsa, John 1:14, Percita, Sarah Barker, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The National Guard, Touch | Leave a comment

Bloom

Posted on November 18, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I grew up in rural Ontario and attended Wellburn United Church which was part of a three-point charge. I remember the aisle I walked down on my wedding day, the pew where I received my first communion, and where the … Continue reading →