Category Archives: Prayer

Decomposing

Posted on October 2, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Where do I need to stay when everything in me wants to flee? As soon as I began asking myself this question, one answer came to me, but I wasn’t brave enough to write about it. Silence. Silence is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged artiplex, Brent Unrau, decomposing, Esther Hizsa, Joshua Mayer, Living from the Heart, Lois Elling, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, resurrection, Richard Powers, SJ, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Overstory, the slow work of God | 4 Comments

Staying the Course

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

It’s been almost three months since my convergence, and I can feel the difference. I fit into clothes I haven’t worn in years and can now bike up Burnaby Mountain and down again in just under an hour. But the … Continue reading →

Posted in Overeating, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Chickpea curry, Esther Hizsa, Ignatius of Loyola, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 10:12, Psalms for Praying, Rule of Life, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stocksnap, Wallpaper Flare, Yoga with Adriene | 4 Comments

Inside a Living Temple

Posted on June 26, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

“If your body is a living temple, you are inside that temple,” Donna Varnau said near the end of our guided meditation. I rested in my body-temple with deep gratitude. The belief that God is incarnate in all things is … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 1 Corinthians 6:19, Donna Varnau, Esther Hizsa, Focusing. Full Body Presence, Judith Blackstone, Michael Pravin, Namaste, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Yoga | 1 Comment

Rooted, I Rise

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Two weeks ago, I looked at my Christmas cactus and wondered if, like me, it needed a haircut. It’d finished blooming, so it was time. But then I saw a tiny bud and found another and another. My faithful friend … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Holy Week, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Adriene Mishler, As the mist rises, Easter, Esther Hizsa, Good Friday, Joan Chittister, Mark Seton, Maya Angelou, Rainer Maria Rilke, Schlumbergera, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Still I Rise, Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, Yoga with Adriene | 2 Comments

Remaking History

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

We were about to make Canadian history: the first Living from the Heart course day on Zoom. Audrey, Brent and I had put in extra hours rearranging the material, learning how to do break out rooms, and prepping the participants. … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Week, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Coleman Barks, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 48:6-7, Just right she sighed, Living from the Heart, Rumi, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Corey, Tara Brach, The Essential Rumi, The Guest House, the trance of anxiety | 2 Comments

A Meditation for These Uncertain Times

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Pause with me. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then take another. Continue to breathe slowly and deeply. Notice where your body feels tense and send your next breath there . . . to your shoulders, neck, … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Adriene Mishler, anjan58, Artotem, Blue Skies of Scottsdale, Christine Valters Paintner, coracle, David Wise, Dru Bloomfield, Esther Hizsa, Giving Hands, It is well with my soul, Lamentations 3:22-23, Mike Prince, Nashville Cell Phone Choir, Parker J. Palmer, Pema Chodron, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, uncertainty | 1 Comment

Covid-19

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

How are you doing in the midst of this world-wide pandemic? Finding a new normal eludes us daily. We all are all experiencing losses of one kind or another. It’s surreal. My days have been occupied by Zoom meetings and … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Albert Anker, Christine Valters Paintner, Covid 19, Esther Hizsa, Melissa Hillier, Metropolitan Opera, Prachatai, Sleeping girl, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, Zoom | 2 Comments

Even When

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

I’m here as promised. I have lots of time but nothing I want to write about. I’m waiting, listening, remembering that You always come through. We’ve done three hundred and ninety-five blog posts together, and You’ve never let me down. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Writing | Tagged Covid 19, Denis Fournier, Doug Greenberg, Eastern Phoebe, Esther Hizsa, Into the Silent Land, Marco Verch, Martin Laird, persevere, Richard Rohr, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Universal Christ | Leave a comment

Advent III: Retreat

Posted on December 13, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Three cancelled appointments and a no show at Bible study gave me the breathing room I needed. I know that was You looking after me. Sometimes You’re about as quiet as a three-year-old trying to sneak up on mommy. Then … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Advent, Bark Cabin Natural Area, Bowen Island, Esther Hizsa, John Pavlovitz, Josh Kelahan, Low: An Honest Advent Devotional, Nicholas A Tonelli, prayer retreat, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

Seed Is Born

Posted on October 4, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“Think of a situation that takes up considerable time and energy,” Jeff Imbach said to the participants at the Living from the Heart intensive last week. We were at Rivendell Retreat Center on Bowen Island, sitting in a circle, opening … Continue reading →