Category Archives: Reflections

Compassion Leads the Way

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This is my last post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous ones, I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. I stood with the Trinity looking down at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged 8 day retreat, Becker1999 (Paul and Cathy), compassion, Esther Hizsa, feeding 5000, impossible, John 3:1-24, March for Our Lives, Matthew 5:44, Richard Rohr, Rublev icon, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Trinity, Walking on water, Walter Wink | 3 Comments

Invited to Love

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This is the fourth post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous ones, I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. I pray with Psalm 51 again, trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged 8-day prayer rereat, Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness, Erik Sorensen, Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, George Doering, Ignatian prayer retreat, Living from the Heart, Maya Angelou, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 23:3, Society to End Homelessness, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wanda Mulholland | 3 Comments

Love Is Our Birthright

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This is the third post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous posts. I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. Erik suggested that I pray with Psalm 51. … Continue reading →

Posted in community, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged 8-day prayer rereat, An Invitation to Wholeness, Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver, Esther Hizsa, LGBTQ, Nan C. Merrill, New Life Church Collingwood, Pride Parade Vancouver, Psalm 51:1-5, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 51:7, Psalms for Praying, residential schools, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 5 Comments

The Best Day Ever

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This is the second post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read last week’s post, I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. “I’d like you to pray the third exercise … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Spiritual Direction, Writing | Tagged confusion, Daniel Ladinsky, Erik Sorensen, Esther Hizsa, First Week, grace, Hafiz, Ignatian prayer retreat, John 1:16, Luis Alveart, Michael Cook, Night Prayer, Phumzile Phala, Seed Cracked Open, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

The Prodigal Daughter

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“Be gentle with yourselves,” Erik, our director, told us as we began our 8-day silent retreat. After a few more instructions, he sent us off to pray with scriptures that spoke of God’s enduring, present, and attentive love for us. … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 8-day prayer rereat, Angel of Healing, Anne Davis, Erik Sorensen, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian prayer retreat, Ignatian Spirituality, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Isaiah 43:1-7, Luke 15:20, Psalm 139:1-18, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susan Lordi | 7 Comments

Get Real Still

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

I’m on retreat right now. So I here’s a post from a few years ago for you. It was easy to pick out our grandson in the line-up of swimmers. The eight-year-old wore a life jacket and was a foot or two shorter than … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Anatomy of Trust, Brene Brown, Esther Hizsa, Feather, Fred Randall pool, Jim Champion, Paula D'Arcy, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 3 Comments

Yes

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“I tell people you need to pray as long as it takes to get to YES, a foundational yes–yes to reality, to the moment, to God present in the grass, to God present in you and in me,” Richard Rohr … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Mystical, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Genesis 2:7, HeartMath, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Matthias Ripp, Oprah, peace, Richard Rohr, Richard Wagamese, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 2 Comments

Resolutely I Set Out

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“Where is Jesus asking you to go? Will you follow him?” Pastor Ruth asks at the end of her sermon on Sunday. Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He knew what he needed to do. “Foxes have holes,” he said … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Songs, Writing | Tagged 1 Timothy 4:14, Christ and the Adulteress, Dan Schutte, Dr. David Gushee, Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations, Esther Hizsa, Here I Am Lord, John L.Bell, LGBTQ, Lucas Cranach, Luke 9:51-62, Reformation Project, Richard Wagamese, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Summons | 1 Comment

This Moment, This Conversation, This Life

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Summer has arrived and life is more spacious. Nothing urgent demands my attention. I can finally get to the mundane jobs that I’ve been putting off for a while. However, cleaning cupboards and straightening drawers are not as appealing as … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, George Hodan, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mindfulness, Myla Kabat-Zinn, Richard Eriksson, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steven Harris | Leave a comment

Helping Each Other Make It Home

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

As you can imagine, I have been reflecting on the love mischief of tears and paying attention to what has come to my awareness. Five truths have emerged. 1. I didn’t deserve to be bullied. That statement alone brings me … Continue reading →