Category Archives: Lent

The Standoff

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

Such a familiar place,this standoff betweenthe part of me that wants to andthe part that doesn’t I can list all the good reasons why I need to do thisbut something in me has shut the door leans her body against it and yells, … Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Lent, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Andy Simonds, DK, Edwin M. McMahon, Eric Magnuson, Esther Hizsa, Glennon Doyle, Peter Campbell, Rediscovering the Lost Body-Connection within Christian Spirituality, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, standoff, The Open Door, We can do hard things. | Leave a comment

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

It Isn’t That Easy

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

It isn’t that easy. Jesus asks, “Are you coming?” I say, “Yes.” And then what? I’m not instantly empowered like a superhero released from the kryptonite of salt and sugar, egoic desires, or negative thoughts. Taking Jesus’ hand won’t prevent … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Father Damian, feeling our feelings, Isaiah 43:2, John 16:33, just.Luc, kath, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Superhero invasion, waling on water | 1 Comment

Are You Coming?

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I loved the look of satisfaction on Jesus’ face. We just fed five thousand men, plus women and children, with one boy’s lunch of bread and fish. The scene continued to unfold in my imagination as I prayed with this … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Mindfulness, Mystical, Overeating, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 1 Corinthians 10:5, Esther Hizsa, John 6:1-24, limiting beliefs, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Internship | 3 Comments

With Christ, I Die

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.— Colossians 3:3 In the silence,I close my eyesand die. I releaseall I loveall I desire,all I wanted to doall I wished to becomeall that is not resolved.My … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent, Mindfulness, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Acts 17:28, Centre for Action and Contemplation, Colossians 3:3, death, Earl, Esther Hizsa, extinguished, fear of death, Good Friday, James Finley, Mechthilde of Magdeburg, Psalm 23, Silence, silent prayer, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Turning to the Mystics | 4 Comments

Will I Enter This Holy Week?

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

As Jesus pauses before he enters Jerusalem,I pause here. In the silence we share, I descend from head to heartand pass through the doorwayof Loveinto Oneness and rest in my Beloved,the Ground of our being. As Jesus opens his eyes and … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Lent, Mindfulness, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, Holy Week, James Finley, Mary Mrozowski, meditation, Mindfulness, presence, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Theophan the Recluse, Thich Nhat Hanh, Welcoming Prayer | Leave a comment

What Weakness Are You Invited to Befriend?

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

What does she want to talk about? What am I doing wrong? I wondered when I received an email from SoulStream‘s Executive Director asking if we could set up a Zoom time to check in. A wise inner voice told me … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Brandon Dill, Deb Arndt, Esther Hizsa, humility, James Finley, Kristen Oates, laura betancourt, New Seeds of Contemplation, Principal's Office, sisters, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tapping, Thomas Merton, Turning to the Mystics | Leave a comment

What Brought You Here?

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“What brought you here?” you may ask. How was I able to finally lose weight and take better care of my body? Now that’s a long story, and you’d need to read my books and blog posts to follow my … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Overeating, Reflections, Resource, Spiritual Direction, Stories, Writing | Tagged alicia.kowalski, Anthony de Mello, arriving, Brad Yates, Brene Brown, Cheryl Richardson, Crispin Semmens, Donna Varnau, Esther Hizsa, Food Revolution Network, Glennon Doyle, Hafiz, Ignatius, Jessica Ortner, Journey's End, Justin Michael Williams, Kristin Neff, Mary Mrozowski, Nick Ortner, One year nearer to heaven, Pema Chodron, perfect peaches, plant-based diet, Radical Compassion, Redeemed & Forgiven, Richard Rohr, Rosie the Riveter, Rumi, Sounds True, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stephen Pougas, Steve Bell, Tara Brach, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas keating, Thomas Quine, Valarie Kaur, weight loss, Yoga with Adriene | Leave a comment

What Are You Dying for?

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“When I am dust, sing these words over my bones. She was a voice.” —Ana in The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd When I first read those words in The Book of Longings, I felt myself recoil. I … Continue reading →