Tag Archives: Esther Hizsa

What a Good Person Looks Like

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

I left my outer robe at the bottom of the sycamore and climbed into its branches. I had heard Jesus was coming this way and wanted to see what a good person looked like. Up in the tree with my bare … Continue reading →

Posted in Homelessness, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cracked Open: Part Two

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

After the pharisee listed my faults publicly and loudly, I began to weep. It was all true. I prayed, “Lord God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” My heart cracked open. I was now painfully aware of the extent to which … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Cracked Open: Part One

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

“I’d like you to begin the retreat by praying with Psalm 139,” said Edmund, the young Jesuit who was my spiritual director for the eight days I spent alone with God. My room at Carmel Hill Formation House in Deroche opened … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Come

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

I returned from my eight-day retreat carefully cradling my tender heart. In the coming weeks, I will talk about what happened. It’s changed how I see and hear God, myself and scripture. Yesterday I read Matthew 7:21-27 and heard it in a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Anointed

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

“Wow, what a powerful quote! It would be awesome if the world could live like this,” said a friend after reading this quote from last week’s blog post. You stand with the least likely to succeed until success is succeeded by … Continue reading →

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Brave Thoughts

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

So I went as I was to the annual gathering of SoulStream, our dispersed contemplative community. In an afternoon session, Andrea, one of SoulStream’s founding partners, read this quote from Gregory Boyle‘s Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Overeating, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Naked and Unashamed

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

God’s been listening to my thoughts again–not just the chatter in my head but the deep sighs of my heart. You know those dreams where you’re scrambling to make something happen, it’s not coming together, and time’s running out? I’ve experienced that now … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Overeating, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Being Loved in Distant Places

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

“Your sister really loves you,” a friend said after I told her about my trip to Gatineau, Quebec to visit my sister and her family. During that week I was touched again by Sylvia’s generosity and thoughtfulness. From buying my airplane … Continue reading →

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Longing for More Life

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

If you’ve read my posts lately, you may have noticed that God has been gently widening my view and inviting me “to see all people as my kin, all living beings as my flesh.”* As I do this, I’ve been challenged to turn from self-interest … Continue reading →

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Shimmering Delight

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

In March I was able to get away to Bowen Island for a few days of solitude. Often when I retreat there, I sit in the cottage watching the rain come and go. But this time it was sunny and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystical, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments