Category Archives: Stories

Making Light

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

You are the light of the world.–Matthew 5:14 We must let go of outcomes. Suffering is caused by not accepting things as they are, not admitting we are powerless to control the future. I’m learning to accept my powerlessness. I try to notice … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Creation, Justice, Lent, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Early Rays, Esther Hizsa, How the Stars Get in Your Bones, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jan Richardson, Living from the Heart, Not Enough Darkness, SoulStream, SoulStream Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Thomas, weye | Leave a comment

An Old Story

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. –Matthew 4:1 (NIV) I know how it happened to Jesus,human as he was,just like me. The tempter came as a thoughtin Jesus’ head, in … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Poetry, Reflections, Stories | Tagged An Everyday Pilgrim, Christ in the Wilderness, Esther Hizsa, Friendship, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Ivan Kramskoi, Living from the Heart, Living from the Heart Podcast, lunamom58, Matthew 4:1, Matthew 4:11, Pearl Nieuwenhuis, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan | 2 Comments

Return Again

Posted on February 20, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Return again, return againReturn to the land of your soulReturn again, return againReturn to the land of your soul Return to what you areReturn to who you areReturn to where you are born and reborn again. –Shaina Noll, Return Again Come … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Creation, Lent, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections, Songs | Tagged Alice Popkorn, Ardyth and Jennifer, Calling, Come home, Esther Hizsa, Ho’oponopono Mantr, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Isaiah 30:15, Living from the Heart, Return Again, Shaina Noll, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The Cranes Return, Wild horses, Zeynep Sude Emek | Leave a comment

What Was

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

After Mom passed, sadness drifted in and out of my days like a hum in the distance, clearer whenever I looked its way. It didn’t come from the one who had mothered my mother, nor the one who kept wishing for more. It came … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, compassion, Poetry, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, four-leaf clover, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Mary, Mary Oliver, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Wild Geese | 2 Comments

Morning Light

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

The moment I discovered, with the clarity life brings, that my idea was a good idea, and I should’ve acted on it, a grey cluster of emotions emerged.I felt its weight in my chest. Why did I doubt myself? What do I do now? The … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Early Light, Early Morning LIght, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Song of Songs 6:10, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Tony Armstrong-Sly. | Leave a comment

Come In

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

It was comical, really.The day before my mother died,there was a clatter.Clear as a bell, my mom, who hadn’t eaten or spoken for days, called out,“Come in!”“I just dropped something on the floor, ” I said.“Come in!” she said againand went … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Childhood, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged ashley rose, Esther Hizsa, Heidi Frehner, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, John 14:3, Living from the Heart, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | 3 Comments

Bringing My Mother to Jesus

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, compassion, Poetry, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Always With Me, dying, Esther Hizsa, hospice, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Luke 5:17-17, Mark 2:1-12, Paul Zach, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | 4 Comments

The Human Reason

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus[stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged David Surý, Esther Hizsa, Georg Pencz, He Comes, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jesus heals the leper, Jonathan Ogden, Living from the Heart, Man sleeping in the street, Mark 1:40-45, Molly Parden, Paul Zach, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The Porter's Gate | Leave a comment

You Know Enough

Posted on January 9, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

We have known and believe the love that God has for us.–1 John 4:16a (NRSVUE) The word for this new year that came to you –of all the words, this one and of all people, you– what if it isn’t what you should be but … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged *BlueMoon, 1 John 4:16, ashley rose, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, stones, word for the year | Leave a comment

Count Yourself In

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

The gull stood on a rock in the sea.Ferry wash struck the rock and drenched her. She shifted her stance but remained, webbed feet on cold mount,as another wave splashed over her,then, another,and another. Why does she keep standing there? The next … Continue reading →