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.
Two days before Christmas, I’m praying with the story of the shepherds. I imagine myself on a hillside with them, but I’m unaffected by the angels’ song. The shepherds hurry off to see this glorious thing that has happened, but I have … Continue reading →
Posted in Christmas, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Geometric Shapes, Girl Seated by Water, Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremy Braacx, love, Luke 2:8-20, Night Vision, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The View from a Hospital Bed, Winslow Homer
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Christmas Day jangled me into another dimension. I found myself on “the underside,” living in a parallel universe where survival meant the monsters (anything and everything that causes me stress) had to be contained. Not an easy few days for … Continue reading →
Posted in Christmas, Reflections, Stories
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Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Christmas, Esther Hizsa, Felipe Bastos, friends, Friendship, Greg2600, Poverbs 17:17, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stranger Things, stress, the underside, The Upside Down
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For a number of years now, Fred and I have hosted a Christmas meal for a dozen or so people on Christmas Day at New Life Community Church. Our guests are folks from the Wednesday Lunch Club who would be otherwise … Continue reading →
Posted in Christmas, Reflections, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club
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Tagged Elizabeth Rooney, Esther Hizsa, Feast of Stephen, Jsm193, Lorenzo Lotto, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Adoration of the Shepherds, Wednesday Lunch Club
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Emmanuel when Jesus came he didn’t sneak in through the back door of poverty selling magic tricks for applause no Jesus came poor entered every day of every life and never left The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into … Continue reading →
Posted in Christmas, Poetry, Reflections
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Tagged Emmanuel, Esther Hizsa, John 1:14, Nativity, Paul Kline, sneak in through the back door, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Star Walkers, violscaper
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Our faith tells us that the infinite love that is the architect of our hearts has made our hearts in such a way that nothing less than an infinite love will put to rest the restless longings of our hearts. –James … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent, Mystical, Reflections
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Tagged E.Allison Peers, Esther Hizsa, Franz Mayer, George Matheson, O Love that will not let me go, Plum leaves, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, The Dark Night of the Soul, The Nativity, Trevlig fjärde advent!
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This Advent I’ve been enjoying short films from The Work of the People that speak of this season of waiting. They invite me to be unravelled, to hold my cup of longing and not go around it, to welcome the stranger, and … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent, Reflections
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Tagged Advent III, Esther Hizsa, Hadrian's Christmas Tree, joy, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, The Work of the People, Trevlig tredje advent!
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Why couldn’t I just settle down and be present? Have I not been spending enough time in silence? Am I suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder? Is this more evidence that I have ADHD? I looked around the sanctuary artfully decorated … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent, Reflections
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Tagged Advent, Barry Stock, Esther Hizsa, Genesis 1:1, New Life Community Church, peace, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, Wednesday Lunch Club
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Hope God, you come like the persistent widow and knock on my door. You keep knocking, wearing me down with your pleas until I do right. You come like the friend at midnight calling me out of bed to give my neighbour what they … Continue reading →
Posted in Advent, Poetry
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Tagged 5-8, Esther Hizsa, First Sunday in Advent, Luke 11, Luke 18:1-8, Mark 13:35-37, Matthew 25:1-13, Psalm 23, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, Ten Virgins 07, Waiting for the Word
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At some point, the desperate need to shout fell away as if it were a worthless coin. It’s not that I didn’t want to be heard or at times stay awake at night plotting how I might be heard. But one day … Continue reading →
Posted in Reflections, Stories
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Tagged A Hidden Wholeness, coins, Esther Hizsa, inner teacher, Jeff Milner, Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Parker J. Palmer, Psalm 32:3, Ron Frehner, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, Thomas Leuthard
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I sit by the roadside in Jericho begging. A crowd goes by and I ask, “What’s happening?” They tell me, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Without thinking, I shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who … Continue reading →
Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections
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Tagged Ceridwen, Eric Gill, Esther Hizsa, Georges Rouault, gospel contemplation, Less organic waste, Luke 18:35-43, more healthy food, Psalm 116:2, ReFood, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
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An Everyday Pilgrim 