Category Archives: Prayer

Now I See

Posted on April 16, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

. . . we attribute authority to [our weaknesses] to name who we are, and they don’t because only love has the authority to name who we are. –James Finley, Turning to the Mystics Thomas Merton 4 My weaknesses don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, False Self, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged dark view in trees, Demetri Dourambeis, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 30:15-18, James Finley, Let there be light, Radical Compassion, Radical Compassion Challenge, Sounds True, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Sassen, Tara Brach, Thomas Merton, true self, Turning to the Mystics | 4 Comments

Perfectly Me

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

Finally, I’m coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am, that I will never fulfill my obligation to surpass myself unless I first accept myself. . . . The unaccepted self that stands … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystical, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Anthony de Mello, Apple on a tree, Esther Hizsa, Greg Clarke, James Finley, Kristina Servant, Matthew 5:48, Pomme, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Thomas Merton, Turning to the Mystics | Leave a comment

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 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 →

Posted in Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Stories, Writing | Tagged butterfly flight sequence, Dwight Sipler, Esther Hizsa, Gary Millar, Monarch Chrysalis, monarch larvae, Shelby L. Bell, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sue Monk Kidd, The Book of Longings | 5 Comments

What Are You Shushing?

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

Since my convergence last spring, I’ve lost thirty-four pounds. I’m no longer obese and hover on the edge of a healthy weight for my height. I have begun to enjoy freedoms I haven’t had for a long time–running, sleeping better, … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections, Stories, Writing | Tagged A Sacred Sorrow, convergence, emotional eating, Esther Hizsa, Gail Purdy, If you're happy and you know it eat a snack, INTVGene, Jeremy Braacx, Lament, Living from the Heart, Michael Card, Psalm 116:1-2, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, swallow, Walter Brueggemann, Weight Watchers | 6 Comments

What Story Do You Need to Return to?

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“Something in you gets irritated when you think about anyone being a victim,” Donna said in a focusing session hours after I wrote last week’s blog post. “Yes. It’s like a painful ball in my throat.” “You might want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, compassion, Lent, Mystical, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged Cloud of Unknowing, Donna Varnau, Esther Hizsa, focusing, Jaison Cianelli, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Hard Lesson, Thomas Hawke, Warm Embrace, William-Adolphe Bouguereau | 2 Comments

What Are You Unwilling to Feel?

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I can’t stand it when someone goes into victim mode and defends their right to be there. The story goes something like this. “This woman cut in line in front of me after I’d been standing there for fifteen minutes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, compassion, Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged a girl with her cat, Crosspatch, Esther Hizsa, James Finley, Mrs eNil, Niels Kliim, See No Stranger, self-compassion, Sounds True, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tami Simon, Tara Brach, The Axiial Moment of Healing, Valarie Kaur | 3 Comments

Let

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light, and God saw that the light was good. God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters” and “let the water under the sky be … Continue reading →