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Category Archives: Stories
Resting and Rowing
Perhaps last week’s post left you thinking about that age-old question: How much of our transformation is up to God and how much is our responsibility? Thinking of this in terms of a boat that is going from one shore to another, we might ask: How … Continue reading →
What Am I Waiting For?
As I mentioned last week, stillness is not something I easily gravitate toward. When I do try to be still, fleeting and few are the moments when I’m “walking on water,” blissfully free from distraction. Even though I know (and teach) that God is … Continue reading →
Posted in Mystical, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Another day in paradise, Anthony de Mello, Arne Hulstein, Candles, Carlo Scherer, centering prayer, Christian Exercises in Eastern Form, Esther Hizsa, Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Imago Dei, John the Baptist, Sadhana, silent prayer, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
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3 Comments
Peace, Be Still
Mark’s gospel says that one evening Jesus got into a boat with his disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. He was exhausted after a day of teaching and healing and fell asleep on a cushion at the back of … Continue reading →
Posted in Mindfulness, Mystical, Reflections, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim
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Tagged Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey, Esther Hizsa, Jeff Imbach, Jesus calms storm, McCrimmon Publishing, Soren Kierkegaard, SoulStream, SoulStream founders, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Imbach, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim
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2 Comments
Held
This picture called to me from the table covered with photos at a silent retreat earlier this year. I wasn’t sure why until I sat with it in prayer. What stood out for me at first was the bronze colour. It … Continue reading →
Praying in the Cracks
Not that long ago, the idea of spending time alone with God in silence was not even on my radar. But God knew how much I needed this and invited me to “pray in the cracks.” This post was originally … Continue reading →
Posted in Homelessness, Popular Posts, Prayer, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged Christian Asuh, Creative Curator, elevator, Esther Hizsa, Holding Out Hope, Lesley-Anne Evans, Metro Community, old tapes, praying in the cracks, Regent College, Sistine Chapel, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Zephaniah 3:17
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3 Comments
Rescued
As I looked back on my eight-day retreat, I saw the through-line of a story. It began with God’s whispers of love and a gentle awareness that I had been guarding and protecting my heart from God. At the beginning of the retreat, … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged Aftab Uzzaman, Creation of Adam, David L. Fleming SJ, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian prayer, Ignatian prayer retreat, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Living from the Heart, Matthew 11:38; Psalm 115:4-8, Michelangelo, Soul of Christ, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Teresa of Avila
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1 Comment
What a Good Person Looks Like
I left my outer robe at the bottom of the sycamore and climbed into its branches. I had heard Jesus was coming this way and wanted to see what a good person looked like. Up in the tree with my bare … Continue reading →
Posted in Homelessness, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged Bill Barber, Canada Day, Carmel Hill, David L. Fleming SJ, Esther Hizsa, Jessie Wilcox Smith, John 21:20, Little Flower Monastery, Matthew 27:43, Moonbeams, Psalm 22:8, Soul of Christ, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Victor Chapa, Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus Tree
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1 Comment
Cracked Open: Part Two
After the pharisee listed my faults publicly and loudly, I began to weep. It was all true. I prayed, “Lord God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” My heart cracked open. I was now painfully aware of the extent to which … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged Christ washing disciples feet, Dirck van Baburen, Esther Hizsa, Father Lawrence Lew, hope, John 13: 1-11, Kevin Lee, Luke 7:38-50, Newcomers Choir, Publican aand the Pharisee, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, suscipe, Take and Receive, Ted
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5 Comments
Cracked Open: Part One
“I’d like you to begin the retreat by praying with Psalm 139,” said Edmund, the young Jesuit who was my spiritual director for the eight days I spent alone with God. My room at Carmel Hill Formation House in Deroche opened … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged California Golden Poppy, California Poppy, Carmel Hill, Deroche, eight day prayer retreat, Esther Hizsa, Father Alwyn, Helen Chua Tiampo, Ignatian prayer retreat, Little Flower Monastery, Luke 18:9-14, Nan C. Merrill, Philip Bouchard, prayer retreat, Psalm 139, Psalm 51:17, psalm 91, Psalms for Praying, Publican and the Pharisee Icon, spiritual director Burnaby, Thea Rose
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6 Comments
Come
I returned from my eight-day retreat carefully cradling my tender heart. In the coming weeks, I will talk about what happened. It’s changed how I see and hear God, myself and scripture. Yesterday I read Matthew 7:21-27 and heard it in a new … Continue reading →
Posted in Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Esther Hizsa, Henri Nouwen, Justin Kern, kingdom of God, Matthew 7;21-27, Pescadero, Rembrandt, Rolling Tempest, Show Me the Way, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, tender heart, The Return of the Prodigal Son, vulnerability
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6 Comments
An Everyday Pilgrim 