Category Archives: Stories

Questioned by a Strawflower

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

This week I’ve been away at Living From the Heart. Here is a post I wrote two years ago when I was co-facilitating this course for the first time. Five tight buds, glossy purple lollipops, greeted me as I passed them on my … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Stories | Tagged Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Bracteantha Magenta, Deb Arndt, Esther Hizsa, Fleming's Nurseries, Jeff Imbach, Living from the Heart, Lodge at Twin Creeks, Matthew 11:29-30, Opening to God, rhythms of grace, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, spiritual formation, straw flower | Leave a comment

Here Be Tigers

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

People in authority can make me nervous. I’m always afraid they’ll turn into a tiger, pin me in a corner, and pounce on me for doing something wrong. It doesn’t make a lot of sense. For the most part, the leaders I … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Reflections, Songs, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Angelo Antonelli, Esther Hizsa, I Can Dance with the Tiger, Mathias Appel, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, trauma, Wednesday Lunch Club | 2 Comments

Aching for More

Posted on May 5, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

It’s Tuesday and I haven’t written Friday’s blog post yet. I’ve finished praying and have nothing scheduled for the rest of the morning; it’s an ideal setting to write. Often the story has already come together, and I just need a chunk … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Reflections, Writing | Tagged Acts 17:28, Blank page new day, cistercaminante, Esther Hizsa, James Finley, Psalm 5:3, Rick Stilwell, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of Thomas Merton | Leave a comment

Christ Behind Me and Before Me

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Recently I received a new awareness that was liberating. Like a pilgrim summiting a mountain pass, I beheld a fresh landscape. Rolling green hills with clusters of trees and fields of wildflowers sprawled out before me. I savoured this new way of being for ten … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Stories | Tagged Citizen Advocacy Ottawa, Esther Hizsa, Green Valley, Invisible Disabilities Symposium, Isaiah 48:6-7, Joel 2:25, Kim Barthel, Luke 24:13-35, new awareness, Pisut Konepun, Praying the Psalms, Psalm 23, regret, Reza, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Patrick's Breastplate, Tanya Eichler, Vulcan Stream | Leave a comment

Connected

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

I tried to lie back and relax in the underground saltwater pool but whenever I did, I began to drift toward people I didn’t know. I was afraid I’d bump against them and disturb their solace. The Nordik spa in Gatineau, … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged breath prayer, Esther Hizsa, John 15:4, Nordik Spa, salt water pool, SETShots, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, tonglin prayer, Two Hands | Leave a comment

The Cost of Being Known

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

“What was the most memorable meal you ever had?” a friend asked everyone at the dinner table. One by one each person described an experience of eating extravagantly prepared food in an exquisite setting. But it was hard for me to listen. … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Alan Torrence, Esther Hizsa, Fancy Dinner, Godspeed, Live Godspeed, love, Matt Canlis, Megan Yungwirth, Nick, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Who Am I? | Leave a comment

I Will Love. End of Story.

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

A pharisee once asked Jesus which commandment is the greatest. Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Reflections | Tagged Audrey Watson, Cirque Peak, Esther Hizsa, Frederick Buechner, jamelah e, Matthew 22:36-39, Peter Hiett, Philppians 1:6, Progressive Housing Society, Secrets in the Dark, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, Third date with immortality | Leave a comment

Guides from Beyond

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

“What are you feeling?” I ask people when they come for spiritual direction. If they’re experiencing a “negative” emotion, like anger, sadness or disgust, they often want to manage or get rid of it. They don’t like feeling that way. But the wise poet Rumi … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged B, big six, Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, Rumi, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stefani Woods, The Guest House, Welcome Home, welcoming emotions | 2 Comments

Loving Certain People: Part 2

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

This Lent I am taking you with me on my journey to love people who annoy or anger me. In last week’s post, Rowan Williams, Abba Moses, Hafiz and Jesus invited me to move from judgment to humility and compassion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 紫流, Dog & Cat, Esther Hizsa, Helen Haden, Luke 23:34, Matthew 5:43-44, Smile for the camera, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

Loving Certain People

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

“I love mankind. It’s people I can’t stand,” exclaimed Linus Van Pelt decades ago in the cartoon strip Peanuts. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say, “It’s certain people I can’t stand.” When I see certain people do things that annoy … Continue reading →