Category Archives: Mindfulness

Turning Toward

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I was the last one to sit down at our table. Our table was in a hall with one hundred and fifty other guests celebrating my niece’s wedding at a YMCA camp at Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota. My place at that … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, John 14:20, Just like me, Minnesota, Pema Chödrön, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Frehner, wedding, Welcoming the Unwelcome | Leave a comment

Stay Right Here

Posted on September 2, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

Summer wasn’t finished.There were more mountains I wanted to climbwhen autumn came demanding, list in hand,reminding me of all the preparations to be madedeadlines to meetand commitments to honour.A rising tide of the urgenttriggered an internal tide of anxiety. “Breathe,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Charlie Day, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 30:15, Living from the Heart, Nelson Boschman, rising tide, Sasquatch Provincial Park, seagull, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, stokes rx, stokes rx., The Growing Season, trust, Wet Feet | 3 Comments

Playing My Hand

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

Once I acknowledged that I was on the ADHD spectrum, I saw things I could do to make life easier for myself and those around me. For example, I stuck a post-it note on the inside of our front door: … Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Advent, Aging, Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Acts 17:28, Boom, Colin Knowles, Crashing waves at South Beach, Esther Hizsa, Frank Ostaseski, Larissa Sayer, Nurse Log, Pacific Rim National Park, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tara Brach, The Five Invitations | 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

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

My Wild and Precious Life

Posted on February 4, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

Greg McKeown’s book Essentialism gave me the courage to schedule more time for writing. My third book won’t get published if I keep trying to fit it in around everything else. “Everything else” includes my non-negotiables–spending time with family and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections, Writing | Tagged Essentialism, Esther Hizsa, Everything Is Figureoutable, Frederick Brotherton Meyer, Greg McKeown, Marie Forleo, Mary Oliver, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sue Monk Kidd, The Book of Longings | 2 Comments

Taking Time to Discern

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I heard it again as I signed onto Zoom. A heaviness in my chest said, I don’t want to do this. The leader of the Bible study greeted me as names appeared in squares, then faces. I felt a deep … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged discernment, Essentialism, Esther Hizsa, Greg McKeown, Guide to discernment, Heart's Desire, Mike Beales, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Ted Rheingold, Thich Nhat Hanh, Which way to Artlegarth | 1 Comment

The Journey of an Everyday Pilgrim

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

As I was preparing last week’s post, I felt nervous. I loved the concept of becoming more aware of God’s felt presence in my body, but I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to maintain the practice. What if this … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories, Writing | Tagged Bowen Island, Camino, Camino de Santiago, Discerning Hearts, Esther Hizsa, Examen, James Martin, Marcin Bajer, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Cloud of Unknowing | 2 Comments

Being Restored by Grace

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I enjoyed a nice break over Christmas and New Year’s. When a heavy snowfall slowed the world down even more, I noticed what it feels like in my body to relax, knowing nothing urgent needs my attention. Now that I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Mystical, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Black-capped chickadee, Cariboo Road Christian Fellowship. Community Fridge, Community fridge, Dawn Perry, Esther Hizsa, Falling Snow, Genesis 2, Matthew 28:20, Ron Bulovs, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Cloud of Unknowing, unending miracle of love, William Johnston | Leave a comment

I Love You. I’m Listening.

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

We cannot live our lives constantly looking back, listening back, lest we be turned to pillars of longing and regret, but to live without listening at all is to live deaf to the fullness of the music…. Listen for him. … Continue reading →