Category Archives: Reflections

Into the Light

Posted on November 1, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Life has slowed down. My books have arrived; my calendar isn’t jammed. I can linger over meals and leave my phone in my pocket when I walk to the store. I shed an old skin in the rough darkness. After … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Stories, Writing | Tagged Chris B scorpkris, David Wilcox, Esther Hizsa, Galatians 5:1, hand in Wild Grass, Into the light, lloyd Morgan, Mary Oliver, shedding an old skin, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Step into Your Skin, stepping into the light, The Forest | 2 Comments

The Narrow Space Given

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This fall life has been packed tightly, jobs tucked into every spare moment. I write emails on the fly, make phone calls while I walk. I have to keep moving. It isn’t just that I have more commitments than usual. … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Reflections, Wednesday Lunch Club, Writing | Tagged B.C. Housing, Chandigarh, Esther Hizsa, Gustave Thibon, Mary Oliver, Progressive Housing Society, shankar s, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Forest, the narrow space given you, Wednesday Lunch Club | 1 Comment

Arms Wide Open

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Last week I was in Cochrane, Alberta attending a week-long course for spiritual directors. The first night I anticipated the Will-I-fit-in? jitters, but instead, I found myself unconcerned about whether I belonged or not. I was beginning to relax into … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, community, Humour, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories, Writing | Tagged Community meal, Esther Hizsa, Lucy Abbott Tucker, Matthew, Psalm 17:8, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, spirtual direction, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church | 4 Comments

Hopelessly Lost

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

“I don’t know where I am,” I shouted into the phone. In truth, I had a good idea where I was, but I couldn’t quite explain it to Fred who was at home furiously trying to nail down my location … Continue reading →

Posted in community, Poetry, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Stories | Tagged bike riding, Dano, Deb Arndt, Esther Hizsa, Haiku, Living from the Heart, prayer, Proverbs 15:1, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susan Adams | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in Humour, Prayer, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Spiritual Direction | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Jeff Imbach, KDP, Living from the Heart, Psalm 139:14-16, Seed Cracked Open, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

A Step of Faith

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

I promised you that I would wear an orange shirt on Orange Shirt Day before I owned one. That made me nervous. I could have ordered a shirt specially made for that day, but the shipping was expensive, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Stories | Tagged Bases Thrift Store, Esther Hizsa, Foggy Mountain, Hebrews 11:1, Lauri Sten, leap of faith, Mary Harrsh, Orphan Aid Thrift, Ruth Monette, Seed Cracked Open, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 2 Comments

A Frog Trainer Retires

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

The image of trying to get all my frogs in a bowl keeps coming to mind whenever I notice a desire for things to go my way or fear that they won’t. This noticing brings a little more freedom. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged acceptance, ASIM CHAUDHURI, authenticity, being myself, belonging, Esther Hizsa, frog training, Julian of Norwich, orange shirt day, Phyllis Webstad, Psalm 36:5, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Showings of Julian of Norwich | 1 Comment

All Shall Be Well

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

While Fred and I were camping at Rathtrevor Beach on Vancouver Island last week, I had an unusual dream. I dreamed that I was co-facilitating Living from the Heart and looked at the schedule. My name was next to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Reflections, Stories | Tagged all shall be well, Esther Hizsa, Julian of Norwich, Marcia Fretheim, Nancy Bailey, prayer retreat, Psalm 138:8, Rathtrevor Beach, Ruth Hartnup, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Showings of Julian of Norwich, Yummifruitbat | Leave a comment

Frogs in My Bowl

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

I checked my pockets for the third time, but my new credit card wasn’t there. “I was sure I brought it along,” I said to Fred anxiously. Then I remembered that a bunch of my cards fell out of my … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Everything Belongs, fail fail again fail better, Father Thomas Keating, frogs in a bowl, Ignatius of Loyola, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Pema Chodron, Prayer of Examen, Prince Ea, Richard Rohr, Romans 8:28, Seth Godin, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Farmer Story, The Sacrament of the Present Moment | 2 Comments

Fail Better

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

I ended my eight-day retreat with a keen desire to be more compassionate. But within days, I acted on a judgment and hurt someone. Soon afterward, I read Pema Chödrön’s fail fail again fail better. Chödrön says that when things … Continue reading →