Category Archives: Songs

Doing Things that Don’t Spark Joy

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I tend to avoid doing things that don’t spark joy. These jobs end up at the bottom of my To Do list and don’t make a fuss until a deadline pinches them and they squeal. I groan. Oh bother. Do … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Mindfulness, Reflections, Songs, Stories, Writing | Tagged Carrie Newcomer, Esther Hizsa, Holy as the Day Is Spent, Housework again, Jesus collecting the disciples, Luke 5:2, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, the Italian voice | Leave a comment

Come Back

Posted on September 24, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

As autumn arrives, I find myself with little energy or enthusiasm. I have responsibilities, work to do, and practices to return to but lack the desire to do any of it. I don’t see a clear path forward as Covid … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Justice, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged autumn, Autumn leaves, Denethos, Douglas Hill, Esther Hizsa, Faramir, Lord of the Rings Pippen's Song, orange shirt day, Province of British Columbia, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Truth and Reconciliation | Leave a comment

God Let Me Drift

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

At 8:55 am, I clicked on the link to the Zoom gathering of SoulStream‘s Leadership Team. I like to be early so I can greet each person as they arrive. I was feeling unusually peaceful. I’d given myself enough time … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mindfulness, Reflections, Songs | Tagged Accent Inns, Adrift, Chris Mann, Esther Hizsa, Feather 2, Hello, Jim Champion, Leanne O'Sullivan, Leaving Early, Matthew 11:28, My Corona, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poetry Unbound, Scott Wylie, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Thank U Frontline, United Way | 2 Comments

Advent IV: Say Yes

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Christmas, community, Poetry, Reflections, Songs | Tagged 1 Kings 19:11-13, Advent, Christopher Bulle, Esther Hizsa, Lois Shuford, Ready My Heart, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell | 2 Comments

Resolutely I Set Out

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“Where is Jesus asking you to go? Will you follow him?” Pastor Ruth asks at the end of her sermon on Sunday. Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He knew what he needed to do. “Foxes have holes,” he said … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Songs, Writing | Tagged 1 Timothy 4:14, Christ and the Adulteress, Dan Schutte, Dr. David Gushee, Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations, Esther Hizsa, Here I Am Lord, John L.Bell, LGBTQ, Lucas Cranach, Luke 9:51-62, Reformation Project, Richard Wagamese, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Summons | 1 Comment

Beginning to Forgive

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.” –Luke 23:34 (CEV) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged Brad Jersak, Bury the Hatchet, Christ on the Cross, Christ washing disciples feet, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, CWR magazine, Dirck van Baburen, Esther Hizsa, forgiveness, John 13:1-17, Luke 23:34, Matthew 18:21-22, Sonnenstrahl, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Women Who Run With the Wolves | 2 Comments

A Holy Place

Posted on April 5, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Of course I told my spiritual director what happened, and she listened compassionately as I talked and cried. She asked me to name my feelings and notice how they felt in my body. I told her that I felt betrayed, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged betrayal, Bowen Island, Contemplative Outreach, Esther Hizsa, forgiveness, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 18:16, rejection, Scott Erickson, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Light of Failure, Welcoming Prayer | Leave a comment

A Punch in the Gut

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Sometimes self-awareness bubbles up gently and slowly expands to softly widen our world view and make more room for love to flow in and out of our hearts. Sometimes self-awareness comes like a punch in the gut. I know this. … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged 1 Corinthians 13: 12-13, awareness, Bowen Island, Coco Love Alcorn, collage, Curator of Awesomeness, Esther Hizsa, Lectio Divina, Living from the Heart, Mark 8:22-25, Mary Wolfe, Matthew 5:43-44, Psalm 110, retreat, Scott Erickson, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Light of Failure, The River | 9 Comments

How God Waits

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

On Monday I participated in a one-day silent prayer retreat with friends using last week’s post as our guide. I listened to Steve Bell sing Lenten Lands and a feeling of hope rose up in me. God has turned the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mystical, Prayer, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged Christchurch, Coco Love Alcorn, collage, Esther Hizsa, Isaiash 30:15-18, Lenten Lands, Malcolm Guite, New Zealand, prayer retreat, Ruth Monette, shootings, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, The River | 2 Comments

Changes

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

I smell freshly mown grass and my chest expands. A sense of freedom, gratitude, wonder and delight emerges. I follow my senses to my childhood, lying on the lawn looking up at the clouds in a blue, blue sky. No … Continue reading →