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.
Last week I was in Cochrane, Alberta attending a week-long course for spiritual directors. The first night I anticipated the Will-I-fit-in? jitters, but instead, I found myself unconcerned about whether I belonged or not. I was beginning to relax into … Continue reading →
Posted in Childhood, community, Humour, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories, Writing
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Tagged Community meal, Esther Hizsa, Lucy Abbott Tucker, Matthew, Psalm 17:8, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, spirtual direction, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church
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“I don’t know where I am,” I shouted into the phone. In truth, I had a good idea where I was, but I couldn’t quite explain it to Fred who was at home furiously trying to nail down my location … Continue reading →
Posted in community, Poetry, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Stories
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Tagged bike riding, Dano, Deb Arndt, Esther Hizsa, Haiku, Living from the Heart, prayer, Proverbs 15:1, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susan Adams
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“Think of a situation that takes up considerable time and energy,” Jeff Imbach said to the participants at the Living from the Heart intensive last week. We were at Rivendell Retreat Center on Bowen Island, sitting in a circle, opening … Continue reading →
Posted in Humour, Prayer, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Spiritual Direction
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Tagged Esther Hizsa, Jeff Imbach, KDP, Living from the Heart, Psalm 139:14-16, Seed Cracked Open, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
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I promised you that I would wear an orange shirt on Orange Shirt Day before I owned one. That made me nervous. I could have ordered a shirt specially made for that day, but the shipping was expensive, and I … Continue reading →
Posted in Humour, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Stories
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Tagged Bases Thrift Store, Esther Hizsa, Foggy Mountain, Hebrews 11:1, Lauri Sten, leap of faith, Mary Harrsh, Orphan Aid Thrift, Ruth Monette, Seed Cracked Open, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
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The image of trying to get all my frogs in a bowl keeps coming to mind whenever I notice a desire for things to go my way or fear that they won’t. This noticing brings a little more freedom. I … Continue reading →
Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged acceptance, ASIM CHAUDHURI, authenticity, being myself, belonging, Esther Hizsa, frog training, Julian of Norwich, orange shirt day, Phyllis Webstad, Psalm 36:5, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Showings of Julian of Norwich
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While Fred and I were camping at Rathtrevor Beach on Vancouver Island last week, I had an unusual dream. I dreamed that I was co-facilitating Living from the Heart and looked at the schedule. My name was next to the … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged all shall be well, Esther Hizsa, Julian of Norwich, Marcia Fretheim, Nancy Bailey, prayer retreat, Psalm 138:8, Rathtrevor Beach, Ruth Hartnup, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Showings of Julian of Norwich, Yummifruitbat
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I checked my pockets for the third time, but my new credit card wasn’t there. “I was sure I brought it along,” I said to Fred anxiously. Then I remembered that a bunch of my cards fell out of my … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Esther Hizsa, Everything Belongs, fail fail again fail better, Father Thomas Keating, frogs in a bowl, Ignatius of Loyola, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Pema Chodron, Prayer of Examen, Prince Ea, Richard Rohr, Romans 8:28, Seth Godin, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Farmer Story, The Sacrament of the Present Moment
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I ended my eight-day retreat with a keen desire to be more compassionate. But within days, I acted on a judgment and hurt someone. Soon afterward, I read Pema Chödrön’s fail fail again fail better. Chödrön says that when things … Continue reading →
Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Mystical, Prayer, Reflections
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Tagged Esther Hizsa, fail, fail fail again fail better, Heart's Desire, Isaiah 48:6-7, Last Day, Pema Chodron, Rachel Titiriga, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Ted Rheingold, Welcoming Prayer
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This is my last post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous ones, I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. I stood with the Trinity looking down at the … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction
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Tagged 8 day retreat, Becker1999 (Paul and Cathy), compassion, Esther Hizsa, feeding 5000, impossible, John 3:1-24, March for Our Lives, Matthew 5:44, Richard Rohr, Rublev icon, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Trinity, Walking on water, Walter Wink
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This is the fourth post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous ones, I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. I pray with Psalm 51 again, trying to … Continue reading →
Posted in False Self, Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged 8-day prayer rereat, Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness, Erik Sorensen, Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, George Doering, Ignatian prayer retreat, Living from the Heart, Maya Angelou, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 23:3, Society to End Homelessness, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wanda Mulholland
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An Everyday Pilgrim 