Category Archives: Reflections

Allowing the Path to Appear

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Fred and I spent four days on the Oregon coast last week. It rained on and off during the long drive down. When we checked into our motel, the host at the front desk asked if we were ready for liquid … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, Learning to Pray, Macrina Wiederkehr, Marcia Fretheim, Oregon, presence, Rod Janz, Seaside, Seven Sacred Pauses, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, Tillamook Head, Velma Frye, What is | Leave a comment

God Expands My World

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

My world’s gotten small. It happened so subtly, I hardly noticed. But now that I’m aware of it, I can see signs of shrinkage–not caring that I don’t care, taking things personally, being angry about something because of its effect … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Caroline, Doctrine of Discovery, Esther Hizsa, James Finley, Kairos Blanket Exercise, Learning to Pray, Merton's Palace to Nowhere, residential schools, Rod Janz, small black bird, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Truth and Reconciliation | Leave a comment

Calls to Prayer

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Notice what you notice. You’ve heard me say that countless times in my book and blog. It’s become a contemplative practice for me ever since I prayed the Ignatian Exercises in 2012-13. I notice experiences that warm my heart. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Homelessness, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged bellw, David L. Fleming SJ, Esther Hizsa, Hold On, just.Luc, Mayor Hurley, Monica Brown, New Year's Resolutions, Ruth Monette, Soul of Christ, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, uroburos, warming centres, warming shelters | 3 Comments

DIY Retreat #12: Welcoming the New Year

Posted on December 29, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

This retreat was adapted from one prepared by Mei Chang, a SoulStream partner who is a spiritual director and retreat facilitator with a heart to offer contemplative spaces in urban areas. Instructions on how to plan a personal or group retreat … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Prayer Retreat Outline, Reflections | Tagged Alice Popkorn, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 3:14-17, Joshua 4:1-9, little*star, Mei Chang, New Year, Peter, Reaching Out, Sitting in Silence, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, stones | 3 Comments

Advent IV: Presence

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Instead of the usual Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, I have chosen different words for each week in Advent this year. I’m feeling pretty good, then suddenly I’m not. I received an email, and in it, my friend tells me … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Christmas, Mystical, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged David G.Benner, Esther Hizsa, Franz Mayer, Plum leaves, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, The Nativity, Trevlig fjärde advent! | 3 Comments

Advent III: Mystery and Wonder

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Instead of the usual Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, I have chosen different words for each week in Advent this year. I spent a few hours on my last silent retreat gazing at the icon, Pantokrator: Jesus, Creator and Saviour … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Advent III, Ann Green, Ecclesiastes 11:5, Esther Hizsa, Luke 1:28, Pantokrator, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, Trevlig tredje advent! | 1 Comment

Advent II: Yearning

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Instead of the usual Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, I have chosen different words for each week in Advent this year. A few weeks ago Fred and I had a Groupon for a restaurant in the Vancouver’s West End. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Alfred DePew, Daniel Ladinsky, Davie Street, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, Jeff Hitchcock, Odalisque, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson, With that Moon Language, Yearning | 2 Comments

Advent 1: Interruption and Disappointment

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

What if we found new words for our Advent candle-lighting wreaths this year? Instead of the traditional Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, what words would you choose to mark each week in this season of waiting? Two words jump out at … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Aging, Reflections | Tagged Advent, anoldent, Esther Hizsa, First Sunday in Advent, Jan L. Richardson, Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susanne Nilsson | Leave a comment

Choosing to Love My Body

Posted on November 23, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

“Love is a choice,” a directee said to me last week. I hadn’t heard that declaration in a while and felt a resistance rise up in my chest when she said it. Yet she was relaxed and animated as she … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Reflections, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged Angela Clarke, Anni Hunt, Barbara Heller, Bettina Metzkuhn, Blanche Bickerson, Catherine Nicholls, Constance Chapman, Eleanora Hannan, Esther Hizsa, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 1:31, Helen McCrindle, Jennifer Love, Jillian Michaels, Kaija Rautiain, Linda Coe, Michelle Sirois-Silver, Ripped in 30, Ruth Jones, Ruth Scheuing, spiritual direction, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Susan Purney Mark, The Bickersons, Yvonne Stowell | Leave a comment

Loving Myself for God’s Sake

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Am I being greedy? I pushed the question aside, but it kept coming back. Should I really be co-facilitating both offerings of Living from the Heart that will be held in B.C.’s Lower Mainland in 2019? Even though I had … Continue reading →