Category Archives: community

Coming Home

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Esther Hizsa

Sometimes I feel likeevery part of me’s beenflung up in the airand caughtin slow motion floating, swirlingand falling leisurelydown to earth. Transitions are hard. Departures and arrivals unsettle me.I have to let it be and wait with You until all these parts of mefall … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, community, compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged All Parts Welcome, beach, beach pebbles, Elizabeth Gilbert, Esther Hizsa, Ib Aarmo, Matthew Henry, pebbles, Psalm 18:16-19, Richard Schwartz, Sounds True, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tami Simon | 3 Comments

Love Finds an Opening

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

As I continued to keep watch, I noticed a calmness here, a sadness there, delights and disappointments. But nothing wanted to be written about. I told a friend about my day helping at our church’s thrift shop. “I was standing … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Homelessness, Reflections, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged Burnaby Food Bank, Cameron Elementary School, Covenant House, deckerme, Dixon Transition Society, Doctors Without Borders, Esther Hizsa, Matthew 13:1-9, Ryan Dickey, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, sprouting, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, Thrift Shop, Union Gospel Mission, watching | 2 Comments

Hiding Places

Posted on June 24, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

You may be wondering how the little girl at the window is doing. She’s still there and let me know she kind of liked meeting up with her younger fearless self. As I thought about her, I realized my fearful … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Esther Hizsa, Ezekiel 34:11-12, Found me, Funkybug, Islamophobia, Joy Is Measurable, Luke 8:16, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, To Yumnah with love, YCCI | 2 Comments

A Kingdom Tale

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕺𝖓𝖊 WHEREIN the King proclaims that all taxes are forthwith suspended. In return for his generosity, the King requires that all his subjects love one another–including their enemies. The Everyday Pilgrim, who lives in this magical land, is filled … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Art of Spiritual Direction, Dorothe, Esther Hizsa, John 14:34-35, Living from the Heart, Lynn D. Rosentrater, Pixabay, Pxhere, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, unnamed terror | 8 Comments

Left-Handed in a Right-Handed World

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I do that, I thought. And that. And that sounds familiar. Unease, enlightenment, and caffeine gently pulsed in my veins. When my friend referred to herself as neurodivergent, I reached out with a “me too” and suggested we get together … Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, autism, community, compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged ADHD, autism, Birds on a Wire, diversity, Esther Hizsa, Jerry McFarland, Julie Falk, neurodivergent, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

Certainty and Clarity

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

We are gathered in a circle,and a question isplaced before us. Memories comevivid and sharpof feelingweighted by expectationconfined by shouldsinadequate when I failed. I sense a groaning, a churninga pushing againsta wanting release. I give words to my nocertainthat it’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in community, Lent, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged ¡¡¡última pieza!!!, Center for Action and Contemplation, certainty, clarity, Cynthia Bourgeault, Esther Hizsa, Olga Berrios, puzzle, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Third Way | Leave a comment

Astonishing Things Can Happen

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

How might this moment be a gift to me, just as it is? I asked in last week’s post. I fingered that question like a smooth stone in my pocket while I put on my jacket and shoes. “Okay then,” … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, False Self, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Aftab Uzzaman, Cam Miller, David Whyte, Esther Hizsa, present moment, rest, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Winter Bench at the Strip Mall | 3 Comments

Being Vulnerable

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“How can you be so vulnerable?” readers have asked me over the years. That question makes me nervous. Am I too vulnerable? What criticism have I invited? Then I hear from these askers the most common response to my honesty: … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories, Writing | Tagged Brené Brown, Catherine Singleton, dandelion, Downton Abbey, Esther Hizsa, Gabor Maté, Glennon Doyle, In the Shelter, Krista Tippett, Living from the Heart, Maya Angelou, On Being, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Peter Ealey, Shame, Sia, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Wisdom of Trauma, Thomas Hübl, vulnerability, Vulnerability Ted Talk | 2 Comments

Here

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

Sometimes being herefeels like I’m in the wrong placeas if I could look at a map and backtrackto where I’m supposed to be.But there’s no map for the contemplative journey,let alone my contemplative journey. “Here,” the wise ones say,“is the … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Alone, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 66:13, Mark Harrington, Me too, Menachem Ganon, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

What Would You Like to Do?

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“I don’t want to be here,” my insides were shouting. For months, I disregarded my feelings and kept doing what I should, what a good Christian would. Then in Advent, God, who hears my thoughts and feels my feelings, asked … Continue reading →