Monthly Archives: August 2021

Offering Kindness

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“When I read your blog I hear how much you’ve changed in the past year,” my friend said. “You’re a lot kinder to yourself.” I smiled and recalled how often I used to hear, “You’re so hard on yourself.” I … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged 1 Corinthians 13, Bonnie Henry, Brené Brown, Care, Esther Hizsa, FFTs, kindness, Matthew 19:19, pxfuel, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tanti Ruwani | 2 Comments

The Valley of the Shadow of Blame

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

Twenty-four hours before leaving on a bike trip, I had two conversations in which I learned that I’d hurt people I love very much. For the next three days, I was going to be alone with that thought for long … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Breaking Boundaries, contemplativechristian, Esther Hizsa, Gabor Maté, Ilya Kaminsky, Isaiah 52:1, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Pistang Gubat at Inosari Agro-forest Farm, Poetry Unbound, Sir David Attenborough, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Valley of the Shadow of Death, Tree planting, We Lived Happily During the War | Leave a comment

Being Vulnerable

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“How can you be so vulnerable?” readers have asked me over the years. That question makes me nervous. Am I too vulnerable? What criticism have I invited? Then I hear from these askers the most common response to my honesty: … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories, Writing | Tagged Brené Brown, Catherine Singleton, dandelion, Downton Abbey, Esther Hizsa, Gabor Maté, Glennon Doyle, In the Shelter, Krista Tippett, Living from the Heart, Maya Angelou, On Being, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Peter Ealey, Shame, Sia, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Wisdom of Trauma, Thomas Hübl, vulnerability, Vulnerability Ted Talk | 2 Comments

Photosynthesizing

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I told my spiritual director about my compulsion to be outside, my recent episode of anxiety, and Heidi’s horticultural house call. “I felt like I was doing so much better. People have even commented that I’m more relaxed than I … Continue reading →