About Esther Hizsa
Esther is a writer, spiritual director, and cofacilitates contemplative retreats and courses. She lives in Vernon, B.C. with her husband, Fred.
“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
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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
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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 →
“You see these roots here? They’re brown and have no filaments on them.” My daughter, Heidi, sat on our balcony holding my poor, naked Christmas cactus and pulled away the old soil and dead roots. “No wonder the leaves are … Continue reading →
Posted in compassion, Creation, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Alice Popkorn, Christmas Cactus, Esther Hizsa, Gabor Maté, healing, Julian of Norwich, Loneliness, Psalm 52:8, Richard Rohr, root rot, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Thomas Merton, trauma, true self
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Fred retired this year and, with his unrestricted schedule and my flexible one, we’ve spent a lot of time outside. Our last camping trip was to E.C. Manning Park where we hiked into alpine meadows, kayaked on Lightning Lake, and … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Coprinus comatus, Creation, Cycling Fort Langley, Esther Hizsa, Genesis 28:16, Manning Park, Mt. Frosty, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Three Brothers
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Admit it. We all want the full meal deal: nine gifts of the Spirit, every fruit in a neat little package with our name printed on it and Christ, the only ingredient listed. We want what those people are having, … Continue reading →
Posted in Aging, Poetry, Reflections
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Tagged Esther Hizsa, It's Okay, Jayber Crow, Jonas Seaman, Nightbirde, Road to Nowhere, Sergio Boscaino, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Take Out, Transformation, Wendell Berry
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Lately, my self-awareness has risen to a whole new level. I swear there’s a little fellow deep inside me rummaging through all my crap and sending it up for me to look at. These “gifts” are about as attractive as … Continue reading →
Posted in autism, compassion, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction
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Tagged Art Thompson, Caravaggio, Elizabeth of the Trinity, Esther Hizsa, Every Child Matters, Indian Residential School Survivors, James Finley, Revolutionary Love, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle, Theron Trowbridge, Tsaqwasupp, Turning to the Mystics, Valarie Kaur
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“Are you okay?” the grey-haired man asked as I propped my bike against a hedge outside his yard. “Yes,” I said continuing to open the map on my phone. “Is this the way to Twin Lakes Road?” “No. You need … Continue reading →
Posted in Reflections, Stories
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Tagged California Quail, Cycling Oliver, Eastside Lake Road, Esther Hizsa, Living from the Heart, Okanagan Falls, Shellie, Skaha Lke, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Ted McGrath
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Sometimes being herefeels like I’m in the wrong placeas if I could look at a map and backtrackto where I’m supposed to be.But there’s no map for the contemplative journey,let alone my contemplative journey. “Here,” the wise ones say,“is the … Continue reading →
Posted in community, compassion, Poetry, Reflections
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Tagged Alone, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 66:13, Mark Harrington, Me too, Menachem Ganon, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
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For the past three months, James Finley has been my spiritual guide. As soon as I wake up in the morning, I walk in a nearby park and listen to a podcast from Turning to the Mystics. Then I sit … Continue reading →
Posted in compassion, Creation, Mystical, Reflections
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Tagged blackberries, Center for Action and Contemplation, centering prayer, discouragement, Ed Dahl, Esther Hizsa, James Finley, pet iguana, reptiles, Romans 12:12, self-compassion, Snappy Goat, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle, Turning to the Mystics
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On a run, I wondered what I would share for my check-in that afternoon at the peer supervision group I attend with other spiritual directors. Typically when we check in, we don’t just share what’s at the surface of our … Continue reading →
Posted in autism, compassion, Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Borderline, Devil's Backbone, Dr. Shaun Murphy, Esther Hizsa, Gustave Thibon, Katherine May, Kristin Neff, Mitch Barrie, self-compassion, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Electricity of Every Living Thing, The Good Doctor
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An Everyday Pilgrim 