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.
On Monday I participated in a one-day silent prayer retreat with friends using last week’s post as our guide. I listened to Steve Bell sing Lenten Lands and a feeling of hope rose up in me. God has turned the … Continue reading →
Posted in Lent, Mystical, Prayer, Reflections, Songs, Stories
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Tagged Christchurch, Coco Love Alcorn, collage, Esther Hizsa, Isaiash 30:15-18, Lenten Lands, Malcolm Guite, New Zealand, prayer retreat, Ruth Monette, shootings, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, The River
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Here is a Lenten retreat outline that came out a contemplative evening I facilitated at Tenth Church last week. The Lectio guide is adapted from Living from the Heart and used with permission from SoulStream. For this retreat, it is … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Prayer, Prayer Retreat Outline, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Benjamin Balázs, consolation, David G.Benner, desolation, Esther Hizsa, Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong, Eurasian blue tit, Green Valley, Ignatius of Loyola, Invitation to a Journey, Isaiah 30:15-18, John O'Donohue, Lamentations 3:22-23, Lectio Divina, lent, Lenten Lands, Living from the Heart, Malcolm Guite, Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer, Pisut Konepun, Prodigal Son, Robert Mulholland, SoulStram, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, Tenth Church, waiting
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“You are from dust and to dust you shall return,” Pastor Ruth says as she dips her thumb in the ashes and makes the sign of the cross on my forehead. Soon we will be scattering my nephew Lee’s ashes. … Continue reading →
Posted in Homelessness, Lent, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Ash Wednesday, Ashes, Ecclesiastes 3:20., Esther Hizsa, fentanyl, Jack Kerouac, John O'Donahue, Mark 10:17-27, meditation, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
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Dan Harris, a co-anchor for Good Morning America, got his studio audience to meditate for sixty seconds. Some amazing love mischief, eh? Many people try meditating but give up because they can’t stop the distractions. Harris explains that we don’t … Continue reading →
Posted in Mindfulness, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged 10% Happier, addictions, centering prayer, Cynthia Bourgeault, Dan Harris, Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, Isaiah 30:15, meditation, Open Mind Open Heart, Overeating, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
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Monday night I was in a conundrum. Tuesday mornings I set aside time to write my blog post, and I didn’t know what I would write about. I knew what I didn’t want to write about. I didn’t want to … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged chamber of love, chany crystal, Dances of Universal Peace, Esther Hizsa, Luke 11:9, Narnia, Rowan Saunders, Rumi, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, XeLflick
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For an hour and a half last Sunday afternoon, I was not myself. I was an indigenous woman who lived in Canada on Turtle Island (North America) when the settlers first came to our land. My life was short. I … Continue reading →
Posted in Childhood, Creation, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, Esther Hizsa, George Erasmus, Isaiah 42: 1, Isaiah 42:3, Kairos Blanket Exercise, Kanaka Bar, Native Norhwest, Sealaska Heritage Stoer, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, T’eqt’aqtn’mux
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The first thing you have to realize is that what you need to survive is killing you. That’s the tough part. There’s relief after a few big, hard swallows. Everything gets endurable. You can actually convince yourself that things are … Continue reading →
Posted in Overeating, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged A Course in Weight Loss, Airflore, Esther Hizsa, Health.mil, Indian Horse, Lake Léman, Life without liquor, Marianne Williamson, One Drink Too Many, Psalm 18:16, Richard Wagamese, Sahara. L. Fales, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Switzerland, Vevey
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I think it is important to pray naked in front of a full-length mirror sometimes, especially when you are full of loathing for your body. Maybe you think you are too heavy. Maybe you have never liked the way your … Continue reading →
Posted in Aging, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections
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Tagged apples, Esther Hizsa, François Clemmons, Fred Rogers, Galatians 5:22, Henry Hemming, Matthew 3:8, Officer Clemmons, Philippians 1:6, spiritual director Burnaby, stick person in front of mirror, Tsahi Levent-Levi, Won't You Be My Neighbor?
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When I look at this painting of Jesus’ rejection in Nazareth by James Tissot, I see a lot of anger. I can understand why. When Jesus read those beloved words from Isaiah 61 about the Spirit of the Lord being on … Continue reading →
Posted in Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged #anger, Brian Zahnd, compassion, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 61:1-3, James Tissot, Jesus reads from the scroll, Luke 4:14-21, nonviolence, Poverbs 17:17, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, vengeance
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Fred and I spent four days on the Oregon coast last week. It rained on and off during the long drive down. When we checked into our motel, the host at the front desk asked if we were ready for liquid … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation, Reflections
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Tagged Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, Learning to Pray, Macrina Wiederkehr, Marcia Fretheim, Oregon, presence, Rod Janz, Seaside, Seven Sacred Pauses, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, Tillamook Head, Velma Frye, What is
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An Everyday Pilgrim 