Category Archives: Reflections

The Right Road

Posted on April 23, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, forest road, James Finley, Mike Beales, More of the Alpines, Psalm 23:3, Rumi, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Essential Rumi, Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, Which way to Artlegarth | Leave a comment

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

In Christ, I Rise

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.— Colossians 3:3 Hidden in Christ, I rise.I leave the tomb of freedomand emerge awakened to Love.For an eternal moment, I tasted the completeness of it,the exquisite settledness of … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Mystical, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Center for Action and Contemplation, Colossians 3:3, Easter poem, Esther Hizsa, graced discontent, James Finley, resurrection, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Turning to the Mystics | Leave a comment

Hidden with Christ in God

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.–Colossians 3:3 (NIV) She is deadbut not lost.She is hidden with Christ in God–consummatedwholeonedecomposing and becomingsoil.The grain of wheat fell to the earth and died. In the tomb of the earthshe is … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Mystical, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Center for Action and Contemplation, Colossians 3:3, Easter poem, Easter Saturday, Esther Hizsa, James Finley, soil, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tina Reynolds, 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 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 →