Tag Archives: SoulStream

Peace, Be Still

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Mark’s gospel says that one evening Jesus got into a boat with his disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. He was exhausted after a day of teaching and healing and fell asleep on a cushion at the back of … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Mystical, Reflections, Stories, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey, Esther Hizsa, Jeff Imbach, Jesus calms storm, McCrimmon Publishing, Soren Kierkegaard, SoulStream, SoulStream founders, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Imbach, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | 2 Comments

Brave Thoughts

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

So I went as I was to the annual gathering of SoulStream, our dispersed contemplative community. In an afternoon session, Andrea, one of SoulStream’s founding partners, read this quote from Gregory Boyle‘s Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Overeating, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Andrea Kastner, Dave Gill, Esther Hizsa, Gail Koombes, ginger snap bake-off, Greg Boyle S.J., kinship, Shauna Gill, Song of Songs 2;14, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stuart Williams, success, Tattoos on the Heart, Thorny Beauty | 2 Comments

Naked and Unashamed

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

God’s been listening to my thoughts again–not just the chatter in my head but the deep sighs of my heart. You know those dreams where you’re scrambling to make something happen, it’s not coming together, and time’s running out? I’ve experienced that now … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Overeating, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged Abreha and Atsbeha Church, Adam and Eve, All Life, ashamed, Esther Hizsa, Garden of Eden, John Bell, naked, Road Fun, Ron Guest, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Take Me as I Am | 3 Comments

Longing for More Life

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

If you’ve read my posts lately, you may have noticed that God has been gently widening my view and inviting me “to see all people as my kin, all living beings as my flesh.”* As I do this, I’ve been challenged to turn from self-interest … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, False Self, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections | Tagged Clowns and Characters, Corinthians 3:17-18, Esther Hizsa, Eyes of My Heart, Gail Purdy, glory, leg hold traps, Mother Goose, Nancy Bailey, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Coquitlam, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Unfolding LIght | Leave a comment

DIY Prayer Retreat #6: Praying with Our Senses at the Beginning of a New Year

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Nearly every month I gather with friends for a silent retreat. It has been a rich experience. I explained how it works here. Thanks to Ann Green, who helped me put this retreat together. Supplies needed: Jelly Bellies (5 per person) … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Prayer Retreat Outline, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Abbey of the Arts, Anne Yungwirth, Beau Considine, Christine Valters Paintner, Esther Hizsa, First Bird Back, Gemma Rest, Gemma Trust, Gerald Manley Hopkins, Goldfinch, House Finch, Isaiah 43:16-19, Jelly Bellies, leaf, Living from the Heart, Lulu Lovering, Matthew 4:18-22, Pied Beauty, Psalm 34:8, seved mostafa zamani, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Coquitlam, Splash, The Artist's Rule, Visio Divina, Wicked Sushi | 1 Comment

Undoing My Life

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I’m still thinking about the “Oh, no!” I heard when a toy car went over the edge of the coffee table and crashed. I imagine that a lot actually, when I fear going over the edge of acceptance and falling into a pit of rejection. Many things–gaining weight, … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Stories | Tagged Cerus Scarf, Deb Arndt, Esther Hizsa, Jagrap, Jeff Imbach, La Marseillaise, let go of identity, Living from the Heart, rejected one, Roberto Ferrari, Sottosopra, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tony & Wayne, Undoing | 6 Comments

God in the Dark: Theory

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

My biking siblings and me: Harry, Sylvia, me, and Ron Every couple of years my siblings, Fred and I go on a three-day bike trip. The first trip we biked from Banff to Jasper, the second was a 400 km section of … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Spiritual Direction, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Tagged Art of Spiritual Direction, bike trip, candle in the Dark, Dustin Gaffke, Esther Hizsa, Gunnar Ries, Harry Frehner, Highwood Pass, Joe Houghton, Kananaskis, love mischief, Michael Cook, Pieta House, Ron Frehner, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Frehner | 3 Comments

Responding to the World Contemplatively

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

How is God calling me to respond to our beautiful, broken world? The same way I am asked to do everything else: contemplatively. “Contemplatively” simply means living out of the reality that we are always in union with God. The apostle Paul said, “In Christ we live … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Popular Posts | Tagged Acts 17:28, caring for the earth, contemplative response to the world, Crescent Earth, Esther Hizsa, John Major, Michael Cook, Night Prayer, real work of saving the planet, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wendell Berry | 15 Comments

Helping God Save the Earth

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Despite all evidence to the contrary, God will accomplish God’s purposes in Christ. This bold statement, based on Ephesians 1:10 and Colossians 1:19-20, expresses SoulStream community’s core value of hope. My experience in the Valley of Dry Bones echoed this hope. Despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation | Tagged Banff, camping, Colossians 1:19-20, Despite all evidence to the contrary, Ephesians 1:10, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, Hokey Pokey, Our Common Home, Pope Francis, Seed Cracked Open, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 3 Comments

Bone of My Bone, Flesh of My Flesh

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I close my eyes to pray, and the hand of the Lord is on me. Like Ezekiel, I am brought out by the Spirit of the Lord and set in the middle of a valley full of bones. Everywhere I look, I see sun-bleached skeletons of … Continue reading →