Category Archives: Childhood

What My Heart Wanted to Hear

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

  A friend asked if I had written any poems about loneliness. I hadn’t. Then I listened to Brad Aaron Modlin’s poem “What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade” and Pádraig Ó Tuama talk about it. … Continue reading →

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Arms Wide Open

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Best Day Ever

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This is the second post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read last week’s post, I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. “I’d like you to pray the third exercise … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Spiritual Direction, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Helping Each Other Make It Home

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

As you can imagine, I have been reflecting on the love mischief of tears and paying attention to what has come to my awareness. Five truths have emerged. 1. I didn’t deserve to be bullied. That statement alone brings me … Continue reading →

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The Love Mischief of Tears

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“Find your pitch and hum it,” Donna said on the first morning of the seventh annual SoulStream Partner Gathering at Sorrento Centre. We hummed in harmony and in unison following her instructions. Then she stopped and remarked how beautiful we … Continue reading →

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Having Tea with My Rage

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

I knew I needed to forgive, so my friend loaned me the book Women Who Run With the Wolves. I turned to the chapter on forgiveness. Near the end of it, Clarissa Pinkola Estés outlines the stages of forgiveness. But before I … Continue reading →

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Truth and Reconciliation

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

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 →

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Sardines in the Dark

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Our grandson called out our names in the dark. But there was no answer. The silence confirmed his deduction: his cousin had found our hiding place. He was on his own. Our grandchildren love to play Sardines in the Dark. … Continue reading →

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Shame’s Spell

Posted on October 19, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Jesus pushes me out of uncomfortable places and pulls me into them. –Steve Garnaas-Holmes I almost said no to co-facilitating Living from the Heart next year because it makes me uncomfortable at times. I’ve told you how it tosses me … Continue reading →

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Living Out of Our Stories: Part 2

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

You either walk inside your own story and own it or stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness. –Brené Brown I don’t have to do anything to find a story from my past that has me hustling. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments