Category Archives: Stories

Calling Forth the Divine

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Mom with Harry, Ron, me, and Sylvia in 1959 My parents were married on November 1, 1952, three weeks after Mom landed in Canada. Six years later, at the age of twenty-five, she had four children to look after and business accounts … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, False Self, Popular Posts, Stories | Tagged calling forth the divine, Esther Hizsa, Luke 12:34, Matthew 13:44, Quest, Quest Food Exchange, Robert Farrar Capon, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Parables of the Kingdom | Leave a comment

Love Decides Everything

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Mom and Dad met one day when she brought milk on a dog-cart to the cheese factory where my dad worked, near her family’s farm in a village outside Zürich. She was seventeen, smart and beautiful; he was twenty-three, strong, handsome and … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Posts, Stories | Tagged Daniel Bonnell, Esther Hizsa, Fall in love stay in love, Fr. Joseph P. Whelan, Matthew 13:44, medical team, Nepal, Nothing is more practical than finding God, Pearl of Great Price, Pedro Arrupe, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby | 6 Comments

Spinning and Waiting

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Ever since my book’s come out, I’ve been feeling anxious and vulnerable. I prayed for God’s comfort and the images of the Mountain Ash tree and the Salzburg Cross, and Hafiz’s love poem came to me. I sensed God saying, … Continue reading →

Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Stories | Tagged anxiety, E.P.Ewing, Esther Hizsa, o what a tangled web we weave, Psalm 130, spider web, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, waiting | Leave a comment

Weighted Blessing

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

The Mountain Ash tree in my parents’ backyard was heavily laden with berries. There must have been two hundred clusters of them. “Won’t they make a big mess when they fall off?” I asked my eighty-seven-year-old father. Dad reassured me that … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Stories | Tagged Amanda Graham, Cedar Wax Wing, Elizabeth McKitrick, Hafiz, JPC.raleigh. Randen Pedersen, Just Sit There Right Now, Martha Carlough, Mountain Ash, Salzburg Cross, Second Nature Home, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim is available!

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I am excited to announce that my book, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, has been published and is available! To celebrate this long-awaited moment, today’s post is the first story in the book. Here’s more about how you can get a copy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Homelessness, Popular Posts, Prayer, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Bowen Island, Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness, Esther Hizsa, Homelessness Action Week, Psalm 84:5, Regent College, retreat, Rivendell, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, Wanda Mulholland | 2 Comments

Balancing the Impossible

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I’m becoming wary of my false self and its admirable intentions. Now, when I think about doing something good, I ask myself why I’m doing it. Is it to enhance my reputation, bring personal gain, or help me feel good? Or am … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Burning Bush, David L. Fleming SJ, Esther Hizsa, false self, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Luke 1:37, Mark 10:17-31, Micahel Cook, Principle and Foundation, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Leave a comment

Gravity

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

“I’ve looked at your x-rays, and your teeth are fine,” the dentist said. “That toffee didn’t do any harm?” I read the look on his face. “I worry too much,” I said. He nodded. He’s right. I do worry too much. I … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, false self, gravity, John 12;32, Jupiter, LLacertae, moon, mystical elegance, Night skies, planets, Sharen, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, Thomas Bresson | 3 Comments

Life by Way of Mistakes

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

“Sell the painting that’s worth the most,” I coached our eight-year-old grandson. Methodically, he lifted each small masterpiece in front of him and peeked under them to see their value. He passed over a Cézanne, which I knew was worth ten million dollars because he … Continue reading →

Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged Basket of Apples, Esther Hizsa, James 3:2, Jayber Crow, mistakes, Paul Cézanne, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, Wednesday Lunch Club, Wendell Berry | Leave a comment

Pilgrim in a Dark Wood

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

From the crest of the hill, I could see my book aglow in the distance, ready to be purchased at a click. But to get there I would have to travel through the dreaded Valley of Publication. Thankfully, I found good companions … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Andrea Dunbar, Christian Gauthier, Dark Autumn Woods, Esther Hizsa, Foggy Forest, Isaiah 42:16, Jayber Crow, love mischief, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, Wendell Berry | 1 Comment

A Deep Wisdom

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Publishing the posts Being “That Woman” and God in the Dark: Theory left me feeling quite vulnerable to people’s reactions. Reason reminded me that God was with me, and I would be fine. But the little girl in me saw thick walls of … Continue reading →