Category Archives: Prayer

Calling in the Angels

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

The rhythm of the everyday pilgrim includes coffee in the morning and a spacious amount of time to quiet her mind and open her heartto meet God in silence. Her Rule of Life reminds her toget outside, eat well,and look for God in … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Prayer, Reflections, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Take and Receive

Posted on July 21, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

What does it mean to surrender myself to Love,to ask God to take and receive my life,and follow Christ into suffering? On the road to discovering thatI’m learning that it’s not saying yes to every need that arisesyet it’s being … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Moments: Part 2

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

You, my dear reader, might think that when life-changing stuff like this happens that it would be so easy to meet God in prayer on retreat,but it was not. I struggled to stay present. A couple of times I fell asleep. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Moments: Part 1

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

When I was alone with you for eight days,there were moments I will never forget. On the first day, there was the moment you said,“Go ahead. Ask for what you want.” I asked to fall in love with you again and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Falling in Love

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

How can I go off-grid for eight days while our priest was away? I had heard that the Jesuit Spirituality Apostolate of Vancouver was offering another eight-day retreat. I considered going, but I’m one of the churchwardens who, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Little Resurrection

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

I was all packed and ready to go. But not quite. I needed to go over a couple of sessions I would lead during the Living from the Heart course one more time. Now I had a spacious hour that … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Suffering

Posted on April 21, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Sadness crept closer with each chapter I read. Then it slipped in beside me when the father left too. It was still there the next day and the day after that. Sadness kept coming in through the tiny crack of … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Ignatian Spirituality, Mindfulness, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What I Heard Before Falling Asleep

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

On the daymy sister ended a Zoom callwith a heartfelt “I love you,” a directee dried her eyes and said, “Thank you,” the warm embrace of a friendstill lingered in my body, the rain stopped long enoughfor me to go … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment