Author Archives: Esther Hizsa

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.

A Me I Have Not Seen Before

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

I’m curious. Why didn’t Mary Magdelene or the disciples on the road to Emmaus recognize the risen Lord? Why did the resurrected Christ suddenly have the superpower to appear and disappear, walking through walls and closed doors. And why, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Reflections | Tagged 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, alicia.kowalski, David Johnson, Esther Hizsa, Fritz von Uhde, Generation of Woke, Justin Michael Williams, resurrection, Rosie the Riveter, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stay Woke, We can do it. | Leave a comment

Becoming What I Eat and Drink

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

On Good Friday I watched Jesus Christ Superstar (Stay Home #WithMe). I braced myself for the scene that bothers me more than the thirty-nine lashings or the death of Judas. A woman comes out of the shadows, “See my eyes I … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Reflections | Tagged Archbishop Melissa Skelton, Catherine of Genoa, Christ Chruch Cathedral, Easter Sunday Eucharist, Esther Hizsa, Fred Rogers, Holy Euchrist, It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, My deepest me, Richard Rohr, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Show Must Go On, The Universal Christ, Tim Minchin | 1 Comment

Rooted, I Rise

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Two weeks ago, I looked at my Christmas cactus and wondered if, like me, it needed a haircut. It’d finished blooming, so it was time. But then I saw a tiny bud and found another and another. My faithful friend … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Holy Week, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Adriene Mishler, As the mist rises, Easter, Esther Hizsa, Good Friday, Joan Chittister, Mark Seton, Maya Angelou, Rainer Maria Rilke, Schlumbergera, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Still I Rise, Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, Yoga with Adriene | 2 Comments

Remaking History

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

We were about to make Canadian history: the first Living from the Heart course day on Zoom. Audrey, Brent and I had put in extra hours rearranging the material, learning how to do break out rooms, and prepping the participants. … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Week, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Coleman Barks, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 48:6-7, Just right she sighed, Living from the Heart, Rumi, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Corey, Tara Brach, The Essential Rumi, The Guest House, the trance of anxiety | 2 Comments

Using Our Imaginations to Be with Christ in Holy Week

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

In the past few posts (and in my upcoming Good Friday post), I have shared how Christ has shown compassion for me in my suffering. Now I want to be with Jesus in his suffering. The best way I know … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Holy Week, Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Father Richard Soo, Jesus at Gethsemane, Jesus on his way to be crucified, Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet, Jesus’ arrest. Luke 23:26-27, John 13, John 20:11-18, John 20:24-29, John 21, Living from the Heart, Luke 24:13-35, Mark 14:43-49:, Matt 26:36-45, Matthew 27: 33-56, Matthew 27:32, Matthew 27:57-61, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Burial, The Crucifixion, The Last Supper | Leave a comment

God Let Me Drift

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

At 8:55 am, I clicked on the link to the Zoom gathering of SoulStream‘s Leadership Team. I like to be early so I can greet each person as they arrive. I was feeling unusually peaceful. I’d given myself enough time … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mindfulness, Reflections, Songs | Tagged Accent Inns, Adrift, Chris Mann, Esther Hizsa, Feather 2, Hello, Jim Champion, Leanne O'Sullivan, Leaving Early, Matthew 11:28, My Corona, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poetry Unbound, Scott Wylie, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Thank U Frontline, United Way | 2 Comments

A Meditation for These Uncertain Times

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Pause with me. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then take another. Continue to breathe slowly and deeply. Notice where your body feels tense and send your next breath there . . . to your shoulders, neck, … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Adriene Mishler, anjan58, Artotem, Blue Skies of Scottsdale, Christine Valters Paintner, coracle, David Wise, Dru Bloomfield, Esther Hizsa, Giving Hands, It is well with my soul, Lamentations 3:22-23, Mike Prince, Nashville Cell Phone Choir, Parker J. Palmer, Pema Chodron, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, uncertainty | 1 Comment

Covid-19

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

How are you doing in the midst of this world-wide pandemic? Finding a new normal eludes us daily. We all are all experiencing losses of one kind or another. It’s surreal. My days have been occupied by Zoom meetings and … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Albert Anker, Christine Valters Paintner, Covid 19, Esther Hizsa, Melissa Hillier, Metropolitan Opera, Prachatai, Sleeping girl, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, Zoom | 2 Comments

Even When

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

I’m here as promised. I have lots of time but nothing I want to write about. I’m waiting, listening, remembering that You always come through. We’ve done three hundred and ninety-five blog posts together, and You’ve never let me down. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Writing | Tagged Covid 19, Denis Fournier, Doug Greenberg, Eastern Phoebe, Esther Hizsa, Into the Silent Land, Marco Verch, Martin Laird, persevere, Richard Rohr, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Universal Christ | Leave a comment

Being Counted

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

“I talked to a nurse practitioner about my gastric reflux,” I said to my spiritual director. “I changed my diet, don’t eat after supper and raised the head of our bed. And that’s not all I’ve been doing to care … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Mindfulness, Mystical, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Être homme, body, c'est précisément être responsable, Community meal, Esther Hizsa, Five Contemplations, Ignatian Spirituality, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, Jean-François Millet, Millet, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, The Potato Planters, Thich Nhat Hanh, Vassilis Londos, vegan | 4 Comments

	Esther Hizsa on In Christ, I Rise
	bettyhj on In Christ, I Rise
	shaunablujay on Room to Be
	Found \| An Everyday… on Return Again
	Esther Hizsa on An Old Story