Category Archives: Stories

Night Crossing

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Imagine you are in your favourite place, the instructions for the prayer read. Perhaps it is on a beach or in a cosy cabin. What do you see, hear, feel, taste, smell? Are you alone or with others? After you have relaxed … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged Contemplation of Place, Ian hoar, Jessica Gardner, John 1:1-3, Kimmeridge, Nan C. Merrill, Night Sailing, Night Sky, praying with the imagination, Psalm 18:10, Psalms for Praying, Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh | 1 Comment

That Which Is Lost Within Me

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

On October 5, an announcement was made to the congregation that my employment at New Life Community Church would end on December 31. A few days before, I was writing last week’s post. Nervous about the coming change, I reached for … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Posts, Stories | Tagged Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey, Eric Liddell, Flora Slosson Wuellner, freedom, McCrimmon Pulblishing, New Life Community Church, over work, seeks for that which is lost within me, SoulStream, The Risen Living Christ, Thomas Hawke, William-Adolphe Bouguereau | 6 Comments

The Hand that Stilled the Storm

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Lately Jesus has been inviting me to hold his hand as we walk through life together. That reminds me of something that happened when Heidi was born. She was delivered as planned by caesarean section a week before the due date. Since I … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mindfulness, Stories | Tagged Christ Calms the Storm, Christian Asuh, David L. Fleming SJ, Fr. Lawrence Lew, Hold On, Luc De Leeuw, Mark 4:39, Pray as you go, Soul of Christ, SoulStream | 4 Comments

Walking with Jesus

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Lately I have been beginning my day with Pray as you go In these short on-line reflections, I am often asked to imagine myself with Jesus and interact with him. One morning I was one of the women who followed Jesus. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged Christian Asuh, Cirque Peak, David L. Fleming SJ, enough has been given, Fred Hizsa, Pray as you go, Soul of Christ, SoulStream, Strolling with My Honey. | Leave a comment

Scarlet Fever

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Do you have a memory that you treasure? I’ll tell you one of my favourites. Recognize the handsome fellow dressed in red serge? That’s my husband, Fred. We met thirty-five years ago in the indigenous community of Bella Bella. Back then this tiny village, … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories | Tagged being cherished, being loved, Bella Bella. B.C., God delights in us, God's delight, Isaiah 62:4, treasured memories, Waglisla, wedding | 5 Comments

Love Speaks to Me about Food

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

The voice I would listen to spoke to me about my relationship with food. Before we left on vacation, I discovered Geneen Roth’s book Women, Food and God. In it Roth talks about the guidelines for eating that have transformed her life. Instead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Overeating, Popular Posts, Stories | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Ed Dahl, Forest Walk, Geneen Roth, Guidelines for Eating, Nan C. Merrill, Overeating, Psalm 73, SoulStream, SoulStream Commitments, Women Food and God | 4 Comments

The Voice of Love Loving

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

I woke in the night feeling condemned for overeating. A voice kept at me, relentlessly inflicting guilt and shame. It blamed me for using my addiction to food as an excuse to sin. It called me a hypocrite. I repented and vowed … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Overeating, Stories | Tagged Daniel Bonnell, David L. Fleming SJ, discernment, Father Richard Soo, Ignatian Spirituality, Jesus Wept, Overeating, Soul of Christ | 2 Comments

Blessed Mistakes

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

I am a list maker. When we go camping, I have a list of everything we need categorized and updated yearly. I live by the old boy scout motto “Be prepared.” I value efficiency and love it when everything goes smoothly. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Homelessness, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged Be Prepared, Boy Scouts of America, Cobs Bakery, freeparking :-|, John of the Cross, Kieran Kavanaugh, Matthew 6:10, mistakes, Starbucks, The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, The Lord's prayer, Wednesday Lunch Club | Leave a comment

A Leaky Bucket Tells His Story

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Here is a story (and my first guest post) by my friend, Tim Fretheim. The idea for this story originally came from an illustration he heard at a retreat given by Rob Des Cotes. My post about the leaky bucket … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories | Tagged Donna Geissler, leaky bucket, Rob Des Cotes, Tim Fretheim, tin pail story | Leave a comment

Faces

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Every time I looked up from the pulpit to give an illustration or make a point, I would notice the expressions on people’s faces. What were they telling me? A smiling face says, “Preach it, sister!” An intent look says, “I’m … Continue reading →