Category Archives: Stories

With Christ in Glory

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

I look at the naked, bloodied body next to me. “What’s he doing here?” A sinless man is being crucified beside us: me on his left, the other criminal on his right. The crucified always die in disgrace, our lives held up as negative examples. Yet, he is good. People called him rabbi, healer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories, Lent, Easter, Holy Week | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stay with Me

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

See how tenderly the angels comfort Jesus in his anguish. He longed for such compassion from his friends, but they couldn’t do it. They disappeared into a panacea of sleep. We rely on Jesus to be with us in everything, but will we be with … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Week, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Unending Miracle of Love

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

I felt my heart “strangely warmed,” like what happened to John Wesley at Aldersgate in 1738 when he knew for certain that he was saved, The same thing happened to the two travellers on the road to Emmaus. While they didn’t recognize the risen Christ walking … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mystical, Popular Posts, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Desire to Disappear

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

“Sometimes I wish I could disappear,” I told Father Elton once while I was doing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises last year. “Of course you do,” he said. “You want to do as you were told.” “What do you mean?” I … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Closed for a Reason

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Words bounce off my heart like rain on pavement. Not just any words. God’s words. They won’t go in. It’s like I’m closed, locked up tight. I sit with my Bible open on my lap and remember another time when … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Popular Posts, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Facing the Page

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Deadlines intimidate me, especially when writing’s involved. I’ve learned the wisdom of waiting for a wave of creativity to carry me and not try to struggle against the tide. But a deadline says: Get going. You’ve used up your quota … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Stories, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Judgment Day

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

I couldn’t believe my eyes. I got off the scale and on it again. The reading was the same. It’s been months since I’ve been to the gym. I knew I’d gained weight, but this was ten more pounds than … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Overeating, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trapped

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Frustrated, stuck, trapped. That’s how I felt. That’s what I recorded in my account of a spiritual direction session. I had directed the session and was discussing it with five other spiritual directors who gather monthly for peer supervision. In supervision, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Spiritual Direction, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Immersed in an Ocean of Love

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

I awake with an emotional heaviness at 4 a.m. and remember what caused this feeling. I got hoodwinked by fear in a legitimate disguise: I saw an injustice and pushed the panic button–again. I ended up making a fuss over … Continue reading →

Posted in Helpful Images, Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Rob Des Cotes, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Not Again?!

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

I went for a walk with a friend the other day. After we greeted each other with a hug, she did what she always does: clips a microphone on my collar. This silver bullet-shaped microphone transmits my voice to her … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments