Category Archives: Writing

Doing Things that Don’t Spark Joy

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I tend to avoid doing things that don’t spark joy. These jobs end up at the bottom of my To Do list and don’t make a fuss until a deadline pinches them and they squeal. I groan. Oh bother. Do … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Mindfulness, Reflections, Songs, Stories, Writing | Tagged Carrie Newcomer, Esther Hizsa, Holy as the Day Is Spent, Housework again, Jesus collecting the disciples, Luke 5:2, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, the Italian voice | Leave a comment

Being Vulnerable

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“How can you be so vulnerable?” readers have asked me over the years. That question makes me nervous. Am I too vulnerable? What criticism have I invited? Then I hear from these askers the most common response to my honesty: … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories, Writing | Tagged Brené Brown, Catherine Singleton, dandelion, Downton Abbey, Esther Hizsa, Gabor Maté, Glennon Doyle, In the Shelter, Krista Tippett, Living from the Heart, Maya Angelou, On Being, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Peter Ealey, Shame, Sia, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Wisdom of Trauma, Thomas Hübl, vulnerability, Vulnerability Ted Talk | 2 Comments

What You Didn’t Know When You Woke Up That Day

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

Last week, I was in a classroom in Austin, Texas, where a girl who was apparently going through a really rough spell at home wrote a poem that was definitely tragic and comic both, about—everybody was yelling at her in … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Poetry, Reflections, Stories, Writing | Tagged Andy Langager, Esther Hizsa, Krista Tippett, Naomi Shihab Nye, On Being, Poetry, raccoon, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sunrise, Valentine for Ernest Mann | 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 →

Posted in Lent, Prayer, Reflections, Stories, Writing | Tagged butterfly flight sequence, Dwight Sipler, Esther Hizsa, Gary Millar, Monarch Chrysalis, monarch larvae, Shelby L. Bell, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sue Monk Kidd, The Book of Longings | 5 Comments

What Are You Shushing?

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

Since my convergence last spring, I’ve lost thirty-four pounds. I’m no longer obese and hover on the edge of a healthy weight for my height. I have begun to enjoy freedoms I haven’t had for a long time–running, sleeping better, … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections, Stories, Writing | Tagged A Sacred Sorrow, convergence, emotional eating, Esther Hizsa, Gail Purdy, If you're happy and you know it eat a snack, INTVGene, Jeremy Braacx, Lament, Living from the Heart, Michael Card, Psalm 116:1-2, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, swallow, Walter Brueggemann, Weight Watchers | 6 Comments

At the Edge of the Year

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

I stand at the edge of a virgin year, hallowed with a light dusting of snow. Skates in hand, I hope the ice is thick enough the surface smooth enough my ankles strong enough to do something beautiful. But I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Poetry, Reflections, Writing | Tagged Benson Kua, David Ward, Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, Frozen Lake, ice skates, John Knox Christian School, New Year, patient trust, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tony Webster, trust the slow work of God, Wendy Pertulla | 10 Comments

Even When

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

I’m here as promised. I have lots of time but nothing I want to write about. I’m waiting, listening, remembering that You always come through. We’ve done three hundred and ninety-five blog posts together, and You’ve never let me down. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Writing | Tagged Covid 19, Denis Fournier, Doug Greenberg, Eastern Phoebe, Esther Hizsa, Into the Silent Land, Marco Verch, Martin Laird, persevere, Richard Rohr, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Universal Christ | Leave a comment

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

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Category Archives: Writing

Doing Things that Don’t Spark Joy

Being Vulnerable

What You Didn’t Know When You Woke Up That Day

What Brought You Here?

What Are You Dying for?

What Are You Shushing?

At the Edge of the Year

Even When

Into the Light

The Narrow Space Given

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