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.
To live mindfully in the present, I have to slow down and take deliberate steps. First, there is an awakening to this moment and noticing what is in it and me–what I see, feel, and think. I observe myself and … Continue reading →
Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections
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Tagged Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations, Esther Hizsa, hand in Wild Grass, Jonathan Emmanuel Flores Tarello, lloyd Morgan, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 23, Psalms for Praying, Richard Wagamese, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Walkers!!! Ruun!!!
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Living in the present moment is a contemplative practice that has been difficult for me. You’ve heard me struggle with this in my blog posts. I am as addicted to thinking as I am to food. I’m constantly thinking about … Continue reading →
Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections
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Tagged awakening to now, Bernard Ruelle, Esther Hizsa, Goutte d'eau, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Martin LaBar, Practicing Presence, present moment, Raindrops on daly lily leaf, Rod Janz, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, This
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While others have been baking bread or planting gardens during this pandemic, I’ve been focused on Living from the Heart. For the past few months, our team of facilitators has been figuring out Zoom, revising lesson plans, and meeting frequently so … Continue reading →
Posted in Reflections
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Tagged Bishop Michael Curry, Esther Hizsa, Fr. Lawrence Lew, Hard Working Life, Living from the Heart, O.P., Parable of the Mustard Seed, Pentecost, Px4u by Team Cu29, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Zoom
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On Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost, the fourth big event chronicled in the New Testament. Christmas names the first one: the incarnation of Christ. God comes into our lives–into our joy and suffering. They called him Immanuel, “God with us.” Reading the … Continue reading →
Posted in Christmas, community, Creation, Easter, Homelessness, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Acts 10, Acts 2, acts of compassion, Amazing Grace, Daniel Ladinsky, David L. Fleming SJ, Dropping Keys, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, John 12:24, Luke 4:18-19, Patrick McFall, Pentecost, Soul of Christ, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Gift
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When I wake in the morning and all through the day, you are there to comfort and lift me up. Even at night, when emptiness threatens, you fill me with yourself. At my mother’s breast and now that I am … Continue reading →
Posted in Aging, Lent, Mindfulness, Overeating, Reflections
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Tagged acid reflux, bees, Celtic Daily Prayer, dandelions, Diet for a New America, Esther Hizsa, high cholesterol, John Robbins, Justin Michael Williams, Matthew 27:52-53, Northumbria Community, obesity, plant-based diet, pre-frontal cortex, pxfuel, Radical Compassion, Richard Rohr, Sachin Inamdar, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stay Woke, Sunrise, The Empty Tomb, The Universal Christ, Veganism
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More and more I’ve noticed that I live on a continuum between panic and peace. A misplaced click makes a document disappear, and suddenly I’m in “fight, flight, or freeze. My body, mind, and focus are constricted; my ability to … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation, Mindfulness, Reflections
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Tagged Death Star Trash Compactor, Diana Robinson, Esther Hizsa, Manoel Lemos, Palouse, Psalm 118:5, Psalm 31-7-8, Psalm 56:12-13, Psalm 18:19, spaciousness, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tara Brach, the exponential benefits of trees, Transe of Anxiey, Tree of All Trades, wide-open spaces
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If Jesus were my spiritual director and had read Becoming What I Eat and Drink, he wouldn’t ask me about my desire to be Mr. Rogers. He would ask me about the agitation I felt watching that scene from Jesus … Continue reading →
Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged cautious kitty, courage, Esther Hizsa, Jeff Imbach, jridgewayphotography, Living from the Heart, Probably Tomfoolery, Riik@mctr, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Great Realisation
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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An Everyday Pilgrim 