Tag Archives: Esther Hizsa

God in the Dark: Practice

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Here is the sequel to last week’s story, “God in the Dark: Theory,” which took place seven years ago while I was taking SoulStream’s Art of Spiritual Direction course. After my spiritual direction session in class, I felt light. That picture of … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Abbotsford, Dewolfs, Esther Hizsa, Flat, God in the Dark: Practice, Most friendly bus driver in Vancouver, Sanpani, SouStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 4 Comments

God in the Dark: Theory

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

My biking siblings and me: Harry, Sylvia, me, and Ron Every couple of years my siblings, Fred and I go on a three-day bike trip. The first trip we biked from Banff to Jasper, the second was a 400 km section of … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Spiritual Direction, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Art of Spiritual Direction, bike trip, candle in the Dark, Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Gunnar Ries, Harry Frehner, Highwood Pass, Joe Houghton, Kananaskis, love mischief, Michael Cook, Pieta House, Ron Frehner, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Frehner | 3 Comments

Being “That Woman”

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Am I afraid to be ordinary? It’s fun watching people who don’t know me come alive when I give a talk or facilitate a group. Before that moment, I blend into the crowd (in the photo above, I’m the short one in … Continue reading →

Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged Brene Brown, Daring Greatly, Dustin Gaffke, Ecclesiasticus 14:2, Esther Hizsa, fear of being ordinary, man fully alive, Martin Hricko, narcissism, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 139:13-14, Pure Joy, Rumi, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, the golden dream, The Guest House | 5 Comments

Surfin’ USA

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Here’s a story I wrote a few years ago that was published in the MB Herald. It’s also in my book, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, which will be available this fall. Fred and I sat contented on the beach and listened to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, Harry Frehner, Manzanita, Oswald West State Park, Paul Hamilton, Ron Frehner, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, surfing | 3 Comments

Responding to the World Contemplatively

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

How is God calling me to respond to our beautiful, broken world? The same way I am asked to do everything else: contemplatively. “Contemplatively” simply means living out of the reality that we are always in union with God. The apostle Paul said, “In Christ we live … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Popular Posts | Tagged Acts 17:28, caring for the earth, contemplative response to the world, Crescent Earth, Esther Hizsa, John Major, Michael Cook, Night Prayer, real work of saving the planet, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wendell Berry | 15 Comments

Helping God Save the Earth

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Despite all evidence to the contrary, God will accomplish God’s purposes in Christ. This bold statement, based on Ephesians 1:10 and Colossians 1:19-20, expresses SoulStream community’s core value of hope. My experience in the Valley of Dry Bones echoed this hope. Despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation | Tagged Banff, camping, Colossians 1:19-20, Despite all evidence to the contrary, Ephesians 1:10, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, Hokey Pokey, Our Common Home, Pope Francis, Seed Cracked Open, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 3 Comments

Bone of My Bone, Flesh of My Flesh

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I close my eyes to pray, and the hand of the Lord is on me. Like Ezekiel, I am brought out by the Spirit of the Lord and set in the middle of a valley full of bones. Everywhere I look, I see sun-bleached skeletons of … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Ignatian Spirituality | Tagged Arthur Rowan, Blackfooted Ferret, CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME, ENCYCLICAL LETTER, Esther Hizsa, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Genesis 2:23, John Roddam Spencer Stanhope, LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS, Marcia Fretheim, Mountain-Prairie, Pope Francis, SoulStream, SoulStream values, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tim Fretheim, USFWS, Valley of Dry Bones, Will | 3 Comments

I Am My Sister’s Keeper

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

“Where is your brother Abel?” The Lord asked Cain. Cain, the first child born on earth, had killed Abel. I can imagine God’s anguish. “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” “In the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation | Tagged Arthur Rowan, CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME, Cathédrale St-Lazare, Earth in the Hands, ENCYCLICAL LETTER, Esther Hizsa, FarbenfroheWuderwelt, Genesis 1, Holly Hayes, John 3:16, LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS, Pope Francis, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wheat | 3 Comments

DIY Prayer Retreat #3: Meeting Jesus in Scripture and in Daily Life

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Nearly every month I gather with friends for a silent retreat. It has been a rich experience. I explained how it works here and introduced Ignatian prayer here. Joy Richardson, a spiritual director living in Coquitlam, prepared and led this retreat. An … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer Retreat Outline, Resource | Tagged Album Page 94, Chris Kilkes, Esther Hizsa, finding God in every day life, Healing of Peter's mother-in-law, Ignatian retreat, Ignatian Spirituality, Joy Richardson, old photo album, Prayer of the imagination, Rembrandt, Savio Sebastain, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Coquitlam, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

God Is So Beautiful

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

“Ever since I was twelve years old, I have been deeply moved by beauty,” a friend wrote in response to a recent post. “When I take my morning coffee out onto the back deck, I am surrounded by so many shades of … Continue reading →