Category Archives: Stories

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 →

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 →

Posted in Childhood, compassion, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Book of Genesis, Genesis 1, Kei Miller, meditation, On Being, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poetry Unbound, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 3 Comments

Letting Go of My Peace

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I’ve never felt more at peace. For a while now, meditation, yoga, getting outside and eating well have been a part of my daily routine. I’m able to pause as I transition between activities with a subtle sense of returning … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Cynthia Bourgeault, Esther Hizsa, John 14:20, Josefina de Vasconcellos, Pema Chodron, Rathtrevor Beach, reconciliation, Revolutionary Love, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The People's Inaugruation, Thich Naht Hanh, Tonglen, Valarie Kaur | 4 Comments

Drawing a Path to the Centre

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I once found a labyrinth drawn on the sand at low tide. The couple who created it were delighted that someone came at the right time to enjoy it. I walked the winding path to the centre and out again … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, labyrinth, Living from the Heart, Mindfulness, present moment, Second Beach La Push Washington, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Thich Nhat Hanh, Yoga, Yoga with Adriene | Leave a comment

Why Welcome Our Feelings?

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“Welcome and entertain all your feelings,” Rumi says in The Guest House. Then he gets specific, “The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.” Why in the world would I want … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Brian McLaren, Esther Hizsa, feelings, Hans Thoma, Kinderreigen, Parker Palmer, Revolutionary Love, Richard Rohr, Rumi, Sounds True, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Guest House, Valarie Kaur, welcoming feelings, Welcoming Prayer | 3 Comments

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 →