Tag Archives: Spiritual Director North Okanagan

Expanding and Contracting

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.–John 6:24 I was in the crowd sitting on that grassy hillside. You fed us bread … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Contract, Earhworm, Esther Hizsa, Expand, Feeding of Five Thousand, How Healing Comes, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, John 6, Living from the Heart, Ostaleri, pcstratman, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

Signs of Resurrection

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. –John 20:1 (CEV) The first sign of Christ’s resurrection came early.I recognized it when … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Dances of Universal Peace, Easter, Esther Hizsa, Fill your cup, gerbera, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, jeiline, Living from the Heart, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 9, resurrection, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Vitya_maly | Leave a comment

A Poem, Prayer and Song for Earth Day

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

Awakening I remember the momentI stood by the oceanand heard You whisper,in each wave that encircled my feet,that the earth on which I stoodand everything in itis Your body. The air I breatheis Your breath,the sand, Your skin,the love You … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections, Songs | Tagged Awakening, Canon Beach, Earth Day, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Randy Hausken, Rhapsody of Rest, Sara Thomsen, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Tjflex2, Tulips from my garden | 2 Comments

Scheduling a Time to Grieve

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

I told my spiritual director about the deep grief that overwhelmed me after my surgery and my grief returned quietly with tears. We listened –You, my spiritual director and I– to that tender part of me and heard what was … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, grief, Holy Saturday, loss, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | 2 Comments

The Healing Power of Compassion

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

I awoke after surgery expecting painand discomfortbut I didn’t expect a hidden griefto break free, rise up andoverwhelmme. In that moment,I knew,as solidly as I knew anything,I needed a hand to hold–a friend who understood to stay with mein this cycloneof sadness. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Poetry, Reflections, Stories | Tagged after the storm, Bill Withers, compassion, cyclone, Esther Hizsa, grief, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Lean On Me, Living from the Heart, Picryl, Pxhere, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | 1 Comment

We Need the Mind of Christ

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.–Albert Einstein What if I start with “we”?I didn’t create the problems the world faces, not on my own. But I do have an impact, good … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Reflections | Tagged Book of Hours, Esther Hizsa, Ginny, I Corinthians 2:16, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Mustang Joe, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The Book of Hours, The Thinker | Leave a comment

Course Corrections

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

“You need to signal, or you’ll end up getting hurt,” the man in a big pickup yelled out the open passenger window as he drove by. It was the first day of spring and my first ride of the year. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Alan Moore, Colin Knowles, daffodils, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Proverbs 15:31, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

Plan A

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

I was invited into the desert with You,led there by the Spiritinto a barren placewith no food. You were temptedto turn stones into bread.You could have done it,but you refused. If I could have,I would have.Why wait for God to … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mindfulness, Poetry, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Alfred Stieglitz, Esther Hizsa, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Lawrence OP, Living from the Heart, Nan C. Merrill, Patience, Psalm 3, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, stones into bread, temptation in wilderness, waiting | Leave a comment

What Must I Do to Be Good?

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, Christ's Appearance to the Two Disciples Journeying to Emmaus, Esther Hizsa, Heinrich Hofmann, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, John Linnell, lent, Living from the Heart, Louis Savary, Prayer of Imagination, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The New Spiritual Excercises | Leave a comment

Revelation

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Esther Hizsa

By the miracle of medicine and grace, my mother woke from the malaise of dementia. For two days, her quick mind was back. She laughed and shared stories. She hugged me and thanked me for taking care of her. As I … Continue reading →