Category Archives: Praying with the Imagination

God Sees Me

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

All of a sudden, I was the boy in the story. I heard Jesus tell the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” While they stood there perplexed, I made my way through the crowd and offered Jesus my uneaten … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mindfulness, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Contemplation of Place, Esther Hizsa, Feeding of 5000, John 6:1-14, Luke 9:12-17, Mark 6:31-44, Matthew 14:13-21, Michael D. O'Brien, Prayer of the imagination, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

Jesus Shows the Full Extent of His Love

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Full extent of love, Haold Copping, Jesus washes disciples' feet, John 13:4-5, John 13;1, Maundy Thursday, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Waiting for the Word | 2 Comments

A Glorious Thing

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Two days before Christmas, I’m praying with the story of the shepherds. I imagine myself on a hillside with them, but I’m unaffected by the angels’ song. The shepherds hurry off to see this glorious thing that has happened, but I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Geometric Shapes, Girl Seated by Water, Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremy Braacx, love, Luke 2:8-20, Night Vision, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The View from a Hospital Bed, Winslow Homer | Leave a comment

I Shouted

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

I sit by the roadside in Jericho begging. A crowd goes by and I ask, “What’s happening?” They tell me, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Without thinking, I shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Ceridwen, Eric Gill, Esther Hizsa, Georges Rouault, gospel contemplation, Less organic waste, Luke 18:35-43, more healthy food, Psalm 116:2, ReFood, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 4 Comments

Immersed in an Ocean of Love

Posted on September 29, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Here’s one of my favourite posts, originally published January 17, 2014. I hope you enjoy it. I awake at 4 a.m. with an emotional heaviness and remember what caused this feeling. I got hoodwinked by fear in a legitimate disguise: I … Continue reading →

Posted in Helpful Images, Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Rob Des Cotes, Stories | Tagged Donna Geissler, Esther Hizsa, fear, God's love, Imago Dei Communities, immersed in God's love, leaky bucket, ocean of love, Psalm 139:18, Rob Des Cotes, Sandy Beach, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wave Coast, weakness, Wonderlane | 6 Comments

Living Out of Our Stories: Part 2

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

You either walk inside your own story and own it or stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness. –Brené Brown I don’t have to do anything to find a story from my past that has me hustling. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged #anger, Brene Brown, Chris Feichtner, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 43: 19, Lisa E, Looking Back, Psalm 137, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tower # 15 | 2 Comments

What I Knew Then

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

I tell my spiritual director about my panic and the memory of being shamed by the principal when I was twelve. “I still see the anger on his face and feel my back against the wall.” I recall that moment and am that … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, healing of memories, Missy Caulk, mosque, Psalm 139:13-14, Quebec shooting, Richard Gillard, Servant Song, Shame, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, vigil | 4 Comments

Goodbye, Rob

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

On April 6 friend and mentor Rob Des Cotes passed into glory. Rob was a pastor, spiritual director and retreat leader as well as a husband, father, and grandfather, musician, writer and artist. Hearing God’s call to go deeper in contemplative … Continue reading →

Posted in Helpful Images, Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Rob Des Cotes, Stories | Tagged Chris Niekel, Donna Geissler, fear, God's love, Imago Dei Communities, immersed in God's love, leaky bucket, ocean of love, Psalm 139:18, Rob Des Cotes, Sandy Beach, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Waves, weakness | 1 Comment

Gethsemane

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

See how tenderly the angels comfort Jesus in his anguish. He longed for such compassion from his friends, but they couldn’t do it. They disappeared into a panacea of sleep. We rely on Jesus to be with us in everything, but will we be with … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged Anthony Falbo, Contemplation of Place, Gethsemane, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, lent, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 26:36-46, Maundy Thursday, praying with the imagination, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stay with me, The Hour is Near | Leave a comment

My Soul Speaks

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Jesus kept his promise. During my eight-day retreat, he showed himself to me as I prayed with biblical stories and imagined myself as Hannah, the woman by the well, a child playing with Jesus, and the apostle Peter. “When you pray, ask … Continue reading →