Tag Archives: Esther Hizsa

Lay Your Burdens Down

Not long after my 8-day retreat, I was listening to Pray As You Go. It opened with this song, and I was invited to reflect on these words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you that are … Continue reading

Posted in Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Sin Is Both Something and No Thing

This week I offer you two quotes about sin from Turning to the Mystics podcast on Julian of Norwich. Mirabai Starr, who translated The Showings of Julian of Norwich, said: “’Sin has not a particle of substance. It is no … Continue reading

Posted in compassion, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Take and Receive

What does it mean to surrender myself to Love,to ask God to take and receive my life,and follow Christ into suffering? On the road to discovering thatI’m learning that it’s not saying yes to every need that arisesyet it’s being … Continue reading

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Moments: Part 2

You, my dear reader, might think that when life-changing stuff like this happens that it would be so easy to meet God in prayer on retreat,but it was not. I struggled to stay present. A couple of times I fell asleep. … Continue reading

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Moments: Part 1

When I was alone with you for eight days,there were moments I will never forget. On the first day, there was the moment you said,“Go ahead. Ask for what you want.” I asked to fall in love with you again and … Continue reading

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Falling in Love

How can I go off-grid for eight days while our priest was away? I had heard that the Jesuit Spirituality Apostolate of Vancouver was offering another eight-day retreat. I considered going, but I’m one of the churchwardens who, along with … Continue reading

Posted in community, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Am Enough

When someone expresses their love for me, I wonder, what did I do to deserve it? What have I become that evokes the appreciation of others? Then, unconsciously, I set out to do more of that, be more of that. … Continue reading

Posted in compassion, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Coming Home

Sometimes I feel likeevery part of me’s beenflung up in the airand caughtin slow motion floating, swirlingand falling leisurelydown to earth. Transitions are hard. Departures and arrivals unsettle me.I have to let it be and wait with You until all these parts of mefall … Continue reading

Posted in autism, community, compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Less

I feel gratefulon sunny dayswhen more is given than I hoped for or imagined. But not so much on days that are less than great,with tedious moments and stress,disappointmentsand sadnessI can’t escape. I want to change the channel,change the scenery,change everyone … Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Aging, autism, compassion, Poetry, Reflections, Songs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

More

More.I want more time,more done in my day,more kilometres walked and biked,more dessert,another movie that I enjoyed as much as the last one,more kudos, wins, meaningful prayer times,as if more of anything would make me happier. Then I spend six days … Continue reading

Posted in Creation, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment