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.
“Sell the painting that’s worth the most,” I coached our eight-year-old grandson. Methodically, he lifted each small masterpiece in front of him and peeked under them to see their value. He passed over a Cézanne, which I knew was worth ten million dollars because he … Continue reading →
Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club
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Tagged Basket of Apples, Esther Hizsa, James 3:2, Jayber Crow, mistakes, Paul Cézanne, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, Wednesday Lunch Club, Wendell Berry
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From the crest of the hill, I could see my book aglow in the distance, ready to be purchased at a click. But to get there I would have to travel through the dreaded Valley of Publication. Thankfully, I found good companions … Continue reading →
Posted in Reflections
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Tagged Andrea Dunbar, Christian Gauthier, Dark Autumn Woods, Esther Hizsa, Foggy Forest, Isaiah 42:16, Jayber Crow, love mischief, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, Wendell Berry
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Publishing the posts Being “That Woman” and God in the Dark: Theory left me feeling quite vulnerable to people’s reactions. Reason reminded me that God was with me, and I would be fine. But the little girl in me saw thick walls of … Continue reading →
Posted in Reflections
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Tagged Basheer Tome, Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Ethical Bean Coffee, Golden Coast, Julian of Norwich, Kim Schachte, Lloyd Bernhardt, Nan C. Merrill, Psalms for Praying, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, Wave Coast, Wonderlane
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Here is the sequel to last week’s story, “God in the Dark: Theory,” which took place seven years ago while I was taking SoulStream’s Art of Spiritual Direction course. After my spiritual direction session in class, I felt light. That picture of … Continue reading →
Posted in Humour, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim
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Tagged Abbotsford, Dewolfs, Esther Hizsa, Flat, God in the Dark: Practice, Most friendly bus driver in Vancouver, Sanpani, SouStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
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My biking siblings and me: Harry, Sylvia, me, and Ron Every couple of years my siblings, Fred and I go on a three-day bike trip. The first trip we biked from Banff to Jasper, the second was a 400 km section of … Continue reading →
Posted in Childhood, Spiritual Direction, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim
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Tagged Art of Spiritual Direction, bike trip, candle in the Dark, Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Gunnar Ries, Harry Frehner, Highwood Pass, Joe Houghton, Kananaskis, love mischief, Michael Cook, Pieta House, Ron Frehner, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Frehner
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Am I afraid to be ordinary? It’s fun watching people who don’t know me come alive when I give a talk or facilitate a group. Before that moment, I blend into the crowd (in the photo above, I’m the short one in … Continue reading →
Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Reflections
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Tagged Brene Brown, Daring Greatly, Dustin Gaffke, Ecclesiasticus 14:2, Esther Hizsa, fear of being ordinary, man fully alive, Martin Hricko, narcissism, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 139:13-14, Pure Joy, Rumi, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, the golden dream, The Guest House
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Here’s a story I wrote a few years ago that was published in the MB Herald. It’s also in my book, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim, which will be available this fall. Fred and I sat contented on the beach and listened to the … Continue reading →
Posted in Humour, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim
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Tagged Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, Harry Frehner, Manzanita, Oswald West State Park, Paul Hamilton, Ron Frehner, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, surfing
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How is God calling me to respond to our beautiful, broken world? The same way I am asked to do everything else: contemplatively. “Contemplatively” simply means living out of the reality that we are always in union with God. The apostle Paul said, “In Christ we live … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation, Popular Posts
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Tagged Acts 17:28, caring for the earth, contemplative response to the world, Crescent Earth, Esther Hizsa, John Major, Michael Cook, Night Prayer, real work of saving the planet, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wendell Berry
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Despite all evidence to the contrary, God will accomplish God’s purposes in Christ. This bold statement, based on Ephesians 1:10 and Colossians 1:19-20, expresses SoulStream community’s core value of hope. My experience in the Valley of Dry Bones echoed this hope. Despite … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation
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Tagged Banff, camping, Colossians 1:19-20, Despite all evidence to the contrary, Ephesians 1:10, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, Hokey Pokey, Our Common Home, Pope Francis, Seed Cracked Open, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver
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I close my eyes to pray, and the hand of the Lord is on me. Like Ezekiel, I am brought out by the Spirit of the Lord and set in the middle of a valley full of bones. Everywhere I look, I see sun-bleached skeletons of … Continue reading →
Posted in Creation, Ignatian Spirituality
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Tagged Arthur Rowan, Blackfooted Ferret, CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME, ENCYCLICAL LETTER, Esther Hizsa, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Genesis 2:23, John Roddam Spencer Stanhope, LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS, Marcia Fretheim, Mountain-Prairie, Pope Francis, SoulStream, SoulStream values, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tim Fretheim, USFWS, Valley of Dry Bones, Will
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An Everyday Pilgrim 