Category Archives: Stories

State of Emergency

Posted on August 25, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Fires out of control Smoky skies, scratchy throat Bags packed and ready to evacuate Lord, have mercy. Diagnosis Prognosis Chemo Side effects 70-80 percent successful She’s the one the doctor’s talking to Lord, have mercy. Clutching a cardboard sign on … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Homelessness, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged AKASH U.K, Always With Me, candle, Esther Hizsa, Kelowna wild fires, Paul Zach, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 5 Comments

Embraced in the Deep Love of Jesus

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Imagining ourselves in a gospel story with Jesus is risky. After all, if we stick to the script, we might hear Jesus can say something demanding, harsh or cold. Before Jesus fed the 5000, he told the disciples, “You give … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mystical, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Esther Hizsa, John 8:1-11, Julian of Norwich, Lulu Lovering, Mark 4:40, Matthew 14:16, Matthew 14:31, Samuel T. Francis, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The First Bird Back, Ucluelet | Leave a comment

An Irrational Fear

Posted on August 11, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

After Julian of Norwich encountered Jesus in her near-death experience, she wrote down what happened and continued to reflect on the revelations of Christ’s love that she received. Then she wrote about these “showings.” That got me thinking: what if … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Alice Popkorn, Esther Hizsa, Father Elton Fernandes, Gabor Maté, James Finley, John 1:14, Julian of Norwich, Scattered Minds, Sitting in Silence, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Turning to the Mystics | 1 Comment

Lay Your Burdens Down

Posted on August 4, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Not long after my 8-day retreat, I was listening to Pray As You Go. It opened with this song, and I was invited to reflect on these words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you that are … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, F.Mira, Hebrews 4:15, helping hand, John 14:15-17, Matthew 11:28-30, Pray as you go, resting, sasint, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, The Porter's Gate, You Hold It All | Leave a comment

How Sin Is Both Something and No Thing

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

This week I offer you two quotes about sin from Turning to the Mystics podcast on Julian of Norwich. Mirabai Starr, who translated The Showings of Julian of Norwich, said: “’Sin has not a particle of substance. It is no … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged A K M Adam, AKMAdam, Center for Action and Contemplation, Drooping Flower, Esther Hizsa, Freddie Brown, Isaiah 42:3, James Finley, Julian of Norwich, Mirabai Starr, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Turning to the Mystics | 1 Comment

Take and Receive

Posted on July 21, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

What does it mean to surrender myself to Love,to ask God to take and receive my life,and follow Christ into suffering? On the road to discovering thatI’m learning that it’s not saying yes to every need that arisesyet it’s being … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged David Benner, Dr. Matthias Ripp, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 40:11, Jesus the Good Shepherd, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Surrender, Surrender to Love | 3 Comments

Moments: Part 2

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

You, my dear reader, might think that when life-changing stuff like this happens that it would be so easy to meet God in prayer on retreat,but it was not. I struggled to stay present. A couple of times I fell asleep. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 8 day retreat, Daniel of Uranc, Esther Hizsa, Fritz von Uhde, Ignatius of Loyola, Loaves and fishes, Luke 24:13-35, Mark 6:34-44, Mark 8:27-30, Road to Emmaus, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. James the Greater Catholic Church, Take and Receive, Thomas Merton, Walking on water | 1 Comment

Moments: Part 1

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

When I was alone with you for eight days,there were moments I will never forget. On the first day, there was the moment you said,“Go ahead. Ask for what you want.” I asked to fall in love with you again and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, candle, Droplet, eight day prayer retreat, Esther Hizsa, Father Richard Soo SJ, Ignatian prayer retreeat, Irene Fennema, Mechthild of Magdeburg, praying with the imagination, Reflecting moment, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Cloud of Unknowing, Thomas Hassel, William Manaker SJ | 5 Comments

Falling in Love

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

How can I go off-grid for eight days while our priest was away? I had heard that the Jesuit Spirituality Apostolate of Vancouver was offering another eight-day retreat. I considered going, but I’m one of the churchwardens who, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged David L. Fleming SJ, Esther Hizsa, Fall in love stay in love, Father Richard Soo, Fr. Joseph P. Whelan, heart in sand, Irene Fennema, Jan Evans, Living from the Heart, pxfuel, Soul of Christ, SoulStream, SoulStream Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

I Am Enough

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

When someone expresses their love for me, I wonder, what did I do to deserve it? What have I become that evokes the appreciation of others? Then, unconsciously, I set out to do more of that, be more of that. … Continue reading →