Category Archives: Stories

The Healing Power of Compassion

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

I awoke after surgery expecting painand discomfortbut I didn’t expect a hidden griefto break free, rise up andoverwhelmme. In that moment,I knew,as solidly as I knew anything,I needed a hand to hold–a friend who understood to stay with mein this cycloneof sadness. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Poetry, Reflections, Stories | Tagged after the storm, Bill Withers, compassion, cyclone, Esther Hizsa, grief, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Lean On Me, Living from the Heart, Picryl, Pxhere, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | 1 Comment

Known

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

I am made of the earthand of its Creatorflesh and spirithuman, divineimpermanent and eternal. I will dieand before I dieI will have died and risen againhundreds of times. On the Saturdaybetween Good Fridayand Easter Sunday,I lay awake in the tomband … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Easter, Mystical, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Amancay Maahs, Colossians 3:3, Esther Hizsa, Faith, Fr Lawrence Lew O.P., Irene Fennema, Just right she sighed, Living from the Heart, Lovely Feet, Psalm 4:8, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Corey | Leave a comment

We Need the Mind of Christ

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.–Albert Einstein What if I start with “we”?I didn’t create the problems the world faces, not on my own. But I do have an impact, good … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Reflections | Tagged Book of Hours, Esther Hizsa, Ginny, I Corinthians 2:16, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Mustang Joe, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The Book of Hours, The Thinker | Leave a comment

Course Corrections

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

“You need to signal, or you’ll end up getting hurt,” the man in a big pickup yelled out the open passenger window as he drove by. It was the first day of spring and my first ride of the year. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Alan Moore, Colin Knowles, daffodils, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Proverbs 15:31, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

Plan A

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

I was invited into the desert with You,led there by the Spiritinto a barren placewith no food. You were temptedto turn stones into bread.You could have done it,but you refused. If I could have,I would have.Why wait for God to … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mindfulness, Poetry, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Alfred Stieglitz, Esther Hizsa, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Lawrence OP, Living from the Heart, Nan C. Merrill, Patience, Psalm 3, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, stones into bread, temptation in wilderness, waiting | Leave a comment

What Must I Do to Be Good?

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, Christ's Appearance to the Two Disciples Journeying to Emmaus, Esther Hizsa, Heinrich Hofmann, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, John Linnell, lent, Living from the Heart, Louis Savary, Prayer of Imagination, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The New Spiritual Excercises | Leave a comment

Revelation

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

By the miracle of medicine and grace, my mother woke from the malaise of dementia. For two days, her quick mind was back. She laughed and shared stories. She hugged me and thanked me for taking care of her. As I … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Childhood, compassion, Poetry, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Ester Marie Doysabas, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 63, Psalms for Praying, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

You Belong

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

No one can near God unless He hasprepared a bed for you.A thousand souls hear His call every second,but most every one then looks into their life’s mirror andsays, “I am not worthy to leave this sadness.”–Teresa of Avila You … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged Advent, Advent Morning Retreat, Annunciation, Audrey Hoehn, Belovedness, 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, Sarah Kroger, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Teresa of Avila, Tym | 1 Comment

Sabbath Keeping

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Hand through wild grass, Hebrews 4:9, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, lloyd Morgan, Look and Learn, Matthew 13:1-8, Meester van Antwerpen, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

What Is Taken Away

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

Whoever has will be given more;whoever does not have,even what they have will be taken from them.–Mark 4:25 (NIV) When I heard this scripture one morning, and thought about our generous God, I didn’t hear the word “even.” I heard, … Continue reading →