Category Archives: Praying with the Imagination

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

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 →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Mindfulness, Mystical, Overeating, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 1 Corinthians 10:5, Esther Hizsa, John 6:1-24, limiting beliefs, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Internship | 3 Comments

Joyful Mysteries and Silent Dreams

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

“Let there be Esther,” I heard God pronounce, speaking right into my life-long struggle to exist. During the Ignatian prayer retreat I was leading last week, I had a chance to pray with one of my “joyful mysteries.” As I … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Creation, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Book of Genesis, Esther Hizsa, Father Elton Fernandes, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, JIm Kwik, Joyful Mysteries, Kei Miller, Let there be light, Pádraig Ó Tuama, silent retreat, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Sassen, Zephaniah 3:17 | 5 Comments

Using Our Imaginations to Be with Christ in Holy Week

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

In the past few posts (and in my upcoming Good Friday post), I have shared how Christ has shown compassion for me in my suffering. Now I want to be with Jesus in his suffering. The best way I know … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Holy Week, Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Father Richard Soo, Jesus at Gethsemane, Jesus on his way to be crucified, Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet, Jesus’ arrest. Luke 23:26-27, John 13, John 20:11-18, John 20:24-29, John 21, Living from the Heart, Luke 24:13-35, Mark 14:43-49:, Matt 26:36-45, Matthew 27: 33-56, Matthew 27:32, Matthew 27:57-61, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Burial, The Crucifixion, The Last Supper | Leave a comment

Compassion Leads the Way

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This is my last post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous ones, I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. I stood with the Trinity looking down at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged 8 day retreat, Becker1999 (Paul and Cathy), compassion, Esther Hizsa, feeding 5000, impossible, John 3:1-24, March for Our Lives, Matthew 5:44, Richard Rohr, Rublev icon, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Trinity, Walking on water, Walter Wink | 3 Comments

Invited to Love

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This is the fourth post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous ones, I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. I pray with Psalm 51 again, trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged 8-day prayer rereat, Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness, Erik Sorensen, Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, George Doering, Ignatian prayer retreat, Living from the Heart, Maya Angelou, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 23:3, Society to End Homelessness, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wanda Mulholland | 3 Comments

Love Is Our Birthright

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This is the third post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous posts. I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. Erik suggested that I pray with Psalm 51. … Continue reading →

Posted in community, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged 8-day prayer rereat, An Invitation to Wholeness, Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver, Esther Hizsa, LGBTQ, Nan C. Merrill, New Life Church Collingwood, Pride Parade Vancouver, Psalm 51:1-5, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 51:7, Psalms for Praying, residential schools, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 5 Comments

The Prodigal Daughter

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“Be gentle with yourselves,” Erik, our director, told us as we began our 8-day silent retreat. After a few more instructions, he sent us off to pray with scriptures that spoke of God’s enduring, present, and attentive love for us. … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 8-day prayer rereat, Angel of Healing, Anne Davis, Erik Sorensen, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian prayer retreat, Ignatian Spirituality, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Isaiah 43:1-7, Luke 15:20, Psalm 139:1-18, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susan Lordi | 7 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

Right Where I Am

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

I looked at this drawing of an injured bird and felt tender inside. I lingered for a while with that feeling and the sense of being held. Then, in the retreat’s spacious silence, I reflected on a poem by Mary … Continue reading →