Category Archives: Stories

A Quarter Turn

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I suddenly knew I was looking at it from the wrong angle, and I gave the cloth in my hand a quarter turn. Immediately I saw a beautiful and coherent golden pattern…. In wonder, the pattern had emerged, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Mindfulness, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Advent, Esther Hizsa, Helen Luke, James Finley, Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:46-49, Matthew 1:18-25, Quarter Turn, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. John of the Cross, Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made On, The Dark Night of the Soul, Tristan Unrau, Weaving | Leave a comment

Being the Odd One Out

Posted on November 26, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

Finally, I thought as I placed a mat in front of our door. Now our doorway matched the other three that open onto the breezeway. We are no longer the odd one out. On a Zoom call that week, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Advent, Airwolfhound, Annunciation, Brené Brown, Esther Hizsa, Henri Nouwen, Jürgen Mangelsdorf, John 15:9, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:28, Luke 3:22, Odd One Out, Puffin Island, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Gifts of Imperfection | 1 Comment

Horizons

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

What happened was so subtle I almost missed it. Every once in a while, I’m asked to preach at my church. After I finished writing my homily for Sunday, I joined Fred for a walk. I shared with him what … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Adam Hinett, Bishop John Stephens, CUPE, Esther Hizsa, Horizon, Likely Hills, patrice photographiste, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Trans Day of Remembrance, Transgender flag | Leave a comment

You Are Worthy to Leave This Sadness

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

He Desired Me So I Came Close No one can near God unless He has prepared a bed for you. A thousand souls hear His call every second, but most every one then looks into their life’s mirror and says, … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Stories | Tagged Advent, Advent Morning Retreat, Annunciation, Audrey Hoehn, Birds on a Wire, Brent Unrau, Daniel Ladinsky, Esther Hizsa, He Desired Me Sio I Came Close, Julie Falk, Love Poems from God, Open Gate, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Teresa of Avila, Tym | 2 Comments

I Want to See

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“If a man [or woman] born blind were told about the nature of the colour yellow, he would understand absolutely nothing, no matter how much instruction he received. Since he never saw these colours, nor their like, he would not … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Climate change, Esther Hizsa, Fr Lawrence Lew O.P., Fr.Marko Rupnik, Jesus healing the blind man, Katharine Hayhoe, Krista Tippett, On Being, Saving Us, spiritual director Burnaby | Leave a comment

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

Astonishing Things Can Happen

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

How might this moment be a gift to me, just as it is? I asked in last week’s post. I fingered that question like a smooth stone in my pocket while I put on my jacket and shoes. “Okay then,” … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, False Self, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Aftab Uzzaman, Cam Miller, David Whyte, Esther Hizsa, present moment, rest, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Winter Bench at the Strip Mall | 3 Comments

Listening to My Fear

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“I got out my old calendars and checked. We used that Groupon. I didn’t lose three hundred dollars, afterall,” I told Fred, and he gave me a hug and a kiss. It was a sunny Friday, and we’d just gotten … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Artotem, Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, focusing, Giving Hands, Insights at the Edge, living in the moment, No Bad Parts, Richard Schwartz, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tami Simon, Welcoming Prayer, welcoming your feelings | 4 Comments

The Sannyasi’s Gift

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

After my playful summer, I had literally hundreds of unread emails to clear. One thing led to another, and I ended up on Groupon. In my history, I found an expired coupon a couple of years old worth three hundred … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Anthony de Mello, Bye-bye Summertime, Cascades, Ed Dahl, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian prayer retreat, money, Patrik S., Rediscovering Life, Sally Ringdahl, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tim Haynes | 3 Comments

Begin Here

Posted on October 1, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

Begin here, the mystics say.Humbly and honestly,name where you are,what you love,what you feel,and wait thereuntil the eyes of your heartadjustto the dark. God is right beside you,in and around,above and below.You don’t need to go anywhere elseto find God,to … Continue reading →