Tag Archives: Esther Hizsa

Hidden Beauty

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

“You have a beautiful smile,” someone said. “I love your laugh,” I heard another say a few days later. “You exude beauty!” a friend told me, looking right into my eyes. I could hardly take it in. They were talking about me … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Beauty, Bernhard Riemann, discovering beauty, Ed Dahl, Esther Hizsa, Fawn in the Trees, hermit crab, inner beauty, Isaiah 48:6, Kathleen Norris, Matthew 13:44, Megan Yungwirth, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Who Am I? | 3 Comments

Beauty Stares Me in the Face

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Every time I look in the mirror, I’m reminded that I don’t look very beautiful. Ouch. Did I say that out loud? Beauty is a sore subject with me, yet over the past few years, God has awakened me to its glory. … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Popular Posts, Stories | Tagged 1 Samuel 16, Be Beautiful, Beauty, Beauty: The Invisible Embrace, Ben Grey, brokenness, contemplative response, daisies, Doug Schroeder, Esther Hizsa, John O'Donohue, Peter Miller, self-image, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, world | 11 Comments

Questioned by a Strawflower

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Five tight buds, glossy purple lollipops, greeted me as I passed them on my way to morning prayers. Many flowers that I recognized were blooming at Twin Creeks Lodge–iris, geraniums, petunias, pansies, and daisies–but I had never seen buds like these before. … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Stories | Tagged Bracteantha Magenta, Deb Arndt, Esther Hizsa, Fleming's Nurseries, Jeff Imbach, Living from the Heart, Lodge at Twin Creeks, Matthew 11:29-30, Opening to God, rhythms of grace, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, spiritual formation, straw flower | 4 Comments

The Other Voice in My Head

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I’m doing it wrong. The voice in my head didn’t mince words. What “it” referred to wasn’t something innocuous like following a recipe; it was my whole spiritual life. Sometimes I’m so confident. I write confidently; I live confidently. Other times … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Stories | Tagged confidence, Crystal, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, Isaiah 55:8, negative self-talk, Seed Cracked Open, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wrong Way | 239 Comments

Life in the Slow Lane

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

After eight slow days on the “mountain” with God, I wanted to maintain a more leisurely pace back in the valley of the shadow of life. I took a hard look at my calendar and wondered how I was going to do everything without rushing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged Ephesians 3:14-21, Esther Hizsa, J. Philip Newell, Ken Slade, prayer retreat, Snail's Pace, Sounds of the Eternal, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 3 Comments

When We Don’t Receive the Grace We Asked for

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

One more thing I want to share with you about my eight-day retreat. Following Ignatius’s example, Sylvester, my spiritual director for the week, encouraged me to ask God for the particular grace I wanted to receive from God in each … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Garrett Charles, hand in Wild Grass, I've Got Nothing, Ignatian prayer, Ignatian retreat, lloyd Morgan, Matthew 6:25-33, Matthew 6:33, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvester Tan | 2 Comments

Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I can’t spend a whole week on retreat with a holy God and not be confronted with my sins, I thought. Yet every time Sylvester assigned scriptures for me to pray with, it never came up. I started to believe I was going … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Ignatian retreat, Ignatian Spirituality, John 13;1, Julian of Norwich, prayer, sin, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Transformation | 2 Comments

My Soul Speaks

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Jesus kept his promise. During my eight-day retreat, he showed himself to me as I prayed with biblical stories and imagined myself as Hannah, the woman by the well, a child playing with Jesus, and the apostle Peter. “When you pray, ask … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination | Tagged 1 Samuel 1-2, Esther Hizsa, Guercino, Ignatian retreat, Ignatian Spirituality, John 4; 1-26, Luke 22:54-62, Matthew 18:1-5, Samaritan woman, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvester Tan, woman at the well | 8 Comments

Eight Days Alone with God

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

After a long kiss goodbye, Fred drove off. I brushed off my nervousness and unpacked my things. It didn’t take long–just clothes, knitting needles and yarn, my Bible, notebook and a copy of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. No computer, no other … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer | Tagged Dennis Wong, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spirituality, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Ignatius of Loyola, Isaiah 55, John 14, Miwok, Neil Gallop, prayer retreat, Redemption, retreat, silent prayer, silent retreat, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvester Tan | 7 Comments

As Good as It Gets

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I don’t get to enjoy my spiritual growth spurt for long before I’m made aware of more shortcomings. And not imaginary ones either. I’m talking significant habits that drive people up the wall. My first reaction is to cocoon, my second is to draw … Continue reading →