Category Archives: Stories

Adrift in an Ocean of Love

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

I’m thinking about my desire to know God’s love for me on God’s terms, not mine. James Finley said in a recent webinar Through the Dark Night, that we long for a sense of union with God that we will experience only … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystical, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged Acts 17:28, Center for Action and Contemplation, Esther Hizsa, Geraint Rowland, James Finley, Listen to the Musn'ts, Marja Bergen, sailing around the world, Setting Sun Malecon Miraflores, Shel Silverstein, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Dark Night of the Soul, Tieras, Where the Sidewalk Ends | 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

The Underside

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Christmas Day jangled me into another dimension. I found myself on “the underside,” living in a parallel universe where survival meant the monsters (anything and everything that causes me stress) had to be contained. Not an easy few days for … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Christmas, Esther Hizsa, Felipe Bastos, friends, Friendship, Greg2600, Poverbs 17:17, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stranger Things, stress, the underside, The Upside Down | Leave a comment

A Celebration Fit for a Down-to-Earth King

Posted on December 29, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

For a number of years now, Fred and I have hosted a Christmas meal for a dozen or so people on Christmas Day at New Life Community Church. Our guests are folks from the Wednesday Lunch Club who would be otherwise … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Reflections, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged Elizabeth Rooney, Esther Hizsa, Feast of Stephen, Jsm193, Lorenzo Lotto, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Adoration of the Shepherds, Wednesday Lunch Club | 1 Comment

The Word Became Flesh

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Emmanuel when Jesus came he didn’t sneak in through the back door of poverty selling magic tricks for applause no Jesus came poor entered every day of every life and never left The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Emmanuel, Esther Hizsa, John 1:14, Nativity, Paul Kline, sneak in through the back door, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Star Walkers, violscaper | Leave a comment

Advent IV: Love

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Our faith tells us that the infinite love that is the architect of our hearts has made our hearts in such a way that nothing less than an infinite love will put to rest the restless longings of our hearts. –James … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Mystical, Reflections | Tagged E.Allison Peers, Esther Hizsa, Franz Mayer, George Matheson, O Love that will not let me go, Plum leaves, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, The Dark Night of the Soul, The Nativity, Trevlig fjärde advent! | 2 Comments

Advent III: Joy

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

This Advent I’ve been enjoying short films from The Work of the People that speak of this season of waiting. They invite me to be unravelled, to hold my cup of longing and not go around it, to welcome the stranger, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Reflections | Tagged Advent III, Esther Hizsa, Hadrian's Christmas Tree, joy, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, The Work of the People, Trevlig tredje advent! | 1 Comment

Advent II: Peace

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Why couldn’t I just settle down and be present? Have I not been spending enough time in silence? Am I suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder? Is this more evidence that I have ADHD? I looked around the sanctuary artfully decorated … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Reflections | Tagged Advent, Barry Stock, Esther Hizsa, Genesis 1:1, New Life Community Church, peace, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, Wednesday Lunch Club | 5 Comments

New Coins in My Pocket

Posted on December 1, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

At some point, the desperate need to shout fell away as if it were a worthless coin. It’s not that I didn’t want to be heard or at times stay awake at night plotting how I might be heard. But one day … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Stories | Tagged A Hidden Wholeness, coins, Esther Hizsa, inner teacher, Jeff Milner, Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Parker J. Palmer, Psalm 32:3, Ron Frehner, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, Thomas Leuthard | 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 →