Category Archives: Prayer

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 →

Posted in Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Advent, Bishop Michael Curry, Bloom Where You Are Planted, Esther Hizsa, happiness, joy, Joy Summit, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Watching for the Light, Wellburn | Leave a comment

Weather

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I looked out at the vast ocean and up at the big blue sky as Fred and I walked the aptly named Long Beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island. A few minutes later, we stopped to shed another … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Resource, Stories | Tagged Alan Jones, Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, Kim Rollins, Long Beach, Pacific Rim National Park, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Welcoming Prayer, Uclulelet, Visio Divina, Wild Pacific Trail | Leave a comment

Turning Toward

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I was the last one to sit down at our table. Our table was in a hall with one hundred and fifty other guests celebrating my niece’s wedding at a YMCA camp at Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota. My place at that … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, John 14:20, Just like me, Minnesota, Pema Chödrön, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Frehner, wedding, Welcoming the Unwelcome | Leave a comment

My First Podcast Interview

Posted on October 7, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

On Hints of Gladness, spiritual director and coach Rod Janz interviewed a number of spiritual directors about contemplation. I was thankful to be one of them. In our conversation, Rod asked what contemplation means to me and what it looks … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Resource, Stories, Writing | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Happy smiling child, Hints of Gladness, Jan Evans, Katherine May, Podcast, Rod Janz, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, verkeorg, Wintering | 3 Comments

Stay Right Here

Posted on September 2, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

Summer wasn’t finished.There were more mountains I wanted to climbwhen autumn came demanding, list in hand,reminding me of all the preparations to be madedeadlines to meetand commitments to honour.A rising tide of the urgenttriggered an internal tide of anxiety. “Breathe,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Charlie Day, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 30:15, Living from the Heart, Nelson Boschman, rising tide, Sasquatch Provincial Park, seagull, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, stokes rx, stokes rx., The Growing Season, trust, Wet Feet | 3 Comments

A Beautiful Yes

Posted on August 12, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

In Celtic spirituality, there is the “Little Book” of scripture and the “Big Book” of creation. Fred and I have been sleeping and waking in the Big Book for twelve wonder-filled days. I am reminded, as I was on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Acts 17:28, Banff, Esther Hizsa, Glacier National Park, llecillewaet, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Whyte Museum, Yoho | 2 Comments

Keep Watching

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I lean my head against Love’s chest,match the rhythm of Her breath,and enter the darkness. The light hurts my eyes. I see what others have done thatI haven’t.I notice habits I have thatthey don’t.I watch myself lose myselfdisappearand want a world with … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, False Self, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged blackberries, Ed Dahl, Esther Hizsa, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Krista Tippett, Moonbeams, My Grandmother's Hands, On Being, Resmaa Menakem, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

It Isn’t That Easy

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

It isn’t that easy. Jesus asks, “Are you coming?” I say, “Yes.” And then what? I’m not instantly empowered like a superhero released from the kryptonite of salt and sugar, egoic desires, or negative thoughts. Taking Jesus’ hand won’t prevent … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Father Damian, feeling our feelings, Isaiah 43:2, John 16:33, just.Luc, kath, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Superhero invasion, waling on water | 1 Comment

Are You Coming?

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I loved the look of satisfaction on Jesus’ face. We just fed five thousand men, plus women and children, with one boy’s lunch of bread and fish. The scene continued to unfold in my imagination as I prayed with this … Continue reading →