Category Archives: Stories

This Moment, This Conversation, This Life

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Summer has arrived and life is more spacious. Nothing urgent demands my attention. I can finally get to the mundane jobs that I’ve been putting off for a while. However, cleaning cupboards and straightening drawers are not as appealing as … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, George Hodan, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mindfulness, Myla Kabat-Zinn, Richard Eriksson, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steven Harris | Leave a comment

Helping Each Other Make It Home

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

As you can imagine, I have been reflecting on the love mischief of tears and paying attention to what has come to my awareness. Five truths have emerged. 1. I didn’t deserve to be bullied. That statement alone brings me … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, community, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Chris Chiu, Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations, Esther Hizsa, Father Richard Soo, forgiveness, Hong Kong Rally, Jan Weenix, Matthias Zomer, Photo of woman on dock, Richard Wagamese, Romans 15:7, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Return of the Prodigal Son | 2 Comments

The Love Mischief of Tears

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“Find your pitch and hum it,” Donna said on the first morning of the seventh annual SoulStream Partner Gathering at Sorrento Centre. We hummed in harmony and in unison following her instructions. Then she stopped and remarked how beautiful we … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, community, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged An Invitation to Wholeness, belonging, Daisuke Tsutsumi, Esther Hizsa, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 23:5-6, Psalms for Praying, Robert Kondo, Sorrento Centre, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Dam Keeper | 3 Comments

Inseparable

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Fred and I gathered on Vancouver Island with family and friends of my nephew Lee to spread his ashes. Some came just for the ceremony, some for a few days and, others, like us, stayed for the whole week to … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Dostoyevsky, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, Richard Wagamese, Romans 8:38-39, Sacred Heart, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, whitetail deer. spreading ashes | 2 Comments

Love One Another

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“Jesus, on the night of his betrayal and arrest, kneels at the feet of his disciples and in an act of intimacy and humility washes their feet and gives them his final message. They are to love one another,” Archbishop … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Stories | Tagged Anglican Church, Archbishop Melissa Skelton, canon, care + share, Christ washing disciples feet, Diocese of New Westminster, Dirck van Baburen, Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations, Esther Hizsa, Fred Hiltz, John 15:12-17, Richard Wagamese, same-sex marriage, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Synod, Urban Aboriginal Ministry | Leave a comment

The Sound of Freedom Rising

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

It came like a low, distant hum, barely noticeable at first: a momentary sadness after a conversation. The drone grew louder as I noticed it more often–after a suggestion I made evoked a negative response, after a compliment went nowhere, … Continue reading →

Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, FarbenfroheWuderwelt, Kotukaran, Lonely Tree, Mika Hiironniemi, Richard Rohr, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, true self, Wheat | 8 Comments

The Legend of La Loba

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

There is an old woman who lives in a hidden place that everyone knows but few have ever seen. . . . The sole work of La Loba, [the Wolf Woman], is the collecting of bones. She is known to … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Mystical, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Barnaby S, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Esther Hizsa, Ezekiel 37:1-14, La Loba, Luke 15:3-7, Maya Angelou, Psalm 104:30, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Felberg, Women Who Run With the Wolves, Zephaniah 3:17 | 1 Comment

Surrendering to God’s Action Within

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

At the beginning of Lent, I downloaded Welcoming Prayer: Consent on the Go and committed to taking a few minutes a day to welcome “what is” in my life. If you have been reading my blog lately, you’ll know that … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Anthony de Mello, awareness, Cherry Haisten, Contemplative Outreach, Esther Hizsa, Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler, If you can't beat it, Mary Dwyer, Pamela Bergman, Romans 12:2, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Therese Saulnier, Welcoming Prayer: Consent on the Go | Leave a comment

On Each of My Risings

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

The deacon poured last year’s blessed oils onto the wood, newspaper and palm crosses. She lit them on fire and our Easter Vigil began. We read stories from the Hebrew scriptures, gospels and epistles, as God’s people have done for … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Lent, Reflections | Tagged Bart-s, Esther Hizsa, Flames, Fuel Radio, I Get To Project, Jenny Konkin, Rod Janz, Romans 8:14-15, sk_vel, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sunrise, Wholeway House | 1 Comment

Beginning to Forgive

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.” –Luke 23:34 (CEV) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven … Continue reading →