
My name is Esther Hizsa and I live in Burnaby, B.C. with my husband, Fred. We have two grown children and two grandchildren.
I work as a spiritual director and writer. I was trained as a spiritual director (SoulStream) 2007-2010. In 2013, I was also trained to give the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and from 2013-2018 was an active member of the Jesuit Spirituality Apostolate of Vancouver (a fancy name for a group of us who have been trained to give the Spiritual Exercises). I am also a facilitator in SoulStream’s spiritual formation course Living from the Heart (Lower Mainland). I facilitate retreats and preach occasionally. I published my first book, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, in 2015 and my second one, Seed Cracked Open: Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, Volume 2 in 2019. My third book, In the Heart of the Beloved: Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, Volume 3, was published in 2022. See also Published Works.
You may also like to listen to this interview with Rod Janz about contemplation on Hints of Gladness Sept 29, 2022.
And this one, in which is about my new book as well as all three books in the Everyday Pilgrim series (November 2022) https://www.hintsofgladness.com/new-book-in-the-heart-of-the-beloved-with-esther-hisza
Here’s a link to a video I did for Living from the Heart about Prayer in 2014.
From 2006 to 2014, I worked part-time as the associate pastor of New Life Community Church. I oversaw local outreach, helped new people get connected, led a contemplative group that meets weekly, preached occasionally, and organized arts collective gatherings and our annual arts worship service. It was a princess job because I got to do what I enjoyed. But God called me to be less busy so I left that job December 31, 2014. We now attend St.Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church.
My first career was in nursing, but I gave that up when Heidi was born. It wasn’t a fit anyway. I liked writing songs, stories, and poems for kids, and teaching Sunday school better. In 1991 I recorded Ride Your Dreams and performed at Christian schools and church events.
But God was calling us on another adventure. We sold our house, packed up our things, bought a forty-foot sailboat, and from 1992-95 we went sailing. We travelled west around the world as far as Turkey. Rudy and Heidi, were 10 and 7 years old when we left and when we returned three years later they received awards as seasoned offshore sailors from the Bluewater Cruising Association.
Back home again I worked as a youth and children’s pastor until 2003, a residential care worker with developmentally disabled adults (sleep-over night shift on weekends) until 2007, and completed my Master of Divinity degree from Regent College in 2005.
I like riding Gracie, my road bike, with Fred and hanging out with family (particularly our two grandchildren), playing Scrabble and watching movies.
You can contact me at aneverydaypilgrim@gmail.com
Here’s why I started this blog.
Congratulations, Esther!
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Thanks, Eileen. I’ve learned so much from you. See you in Sept!
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Hey Esther! Can’t believe I stumbled across your site while crusing for worship art
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That’s way cool. How are you doing? Did you find any of the art on my blog you liked?
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Happy Birthday mom!
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Nice blog!
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Thanks, Cam.
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I like the word pilgrim. It reminds me of my favourite song learnt in childhood. It goes …
Man is lonely by birth
Man is only a pilgrim on earth
Born to be king
But that’s a temporary thing
Only on loan while on earth.
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