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Feeling constantly drained by the demands of modern living? You're not alone. In this restorative conversation, we unpack the revolutionary idea that rest isn't merely a luxury—it's an essential spiritual practice with profound healing implications.

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." Anne Lamott's words capture the heart of our discussion as we explore how our resistance to genuine rest has created a culture of exhaustion. While 96% of Britons consider holidays essential, many return from breaks more tired than when they left—highlighting the crucial difference between vacations and true, soul-deep rest.

We wrestle with why rest provokes such guilt in our achievement-oriented society. From educational systems that reward constant productivity to workplace cultures that celebrate burnout, we've internalized damaging messages about the value of stillness. Yet Jesus himself modelled the importance of retreat, regularly withdrawing to quiet places. If the Son of God needed rest, why do we consider ourselves exempt?

Through practical approaches like digital detoxes, prayer walks, and creating "Sabbath moments" in everyday life, we rediscover how intentional rest allows us to hear God's whispers rather than just the world's noise. The word "holiday" itself comes from "holy day"—time set apart for renewal. As summer unfolds, we invite you to reclaim rest not as indulgence but as essential spiritual practice that allows for genuine healing and restoration.

Listen now to transform your understanding of rest and discover how unplugging might be the most powerful healing tool available to you today.

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What happens when we expand our understanding of grief beyond death? In this deeply personal exploration, we discover that grief touches our lives in countless ways—sometimes daily. From losing jobs to watching children leave home, from community tragedies to environmental changes, grief emerges whenever something significant slips from our grasp.

The episode takes an intimate turn as Kris shares the story of his mentor, Coach Norman Lenneberg, whose recent passing has sparked reflection on how meaningful relationships leave permanent imprints on our hearts. Through touching anecdotes about this extraordinary man's life and impact, we witness how grief reflects the depth of our love and connection. Coach Norman's philosophy—"leave it better than you found it"—offers a powerful lens for processing loss while honoring legacies.

Most challenging is when different forms of grief layer upon each other, creating what Kris calls a "grief sandwich." Retirement might coincide with losing a parent while children move away—a confluence that can feel overwhelming. Yet even in these complex emotional landscapes, paths toward healing emerge through faith, community support, and honest expression.

Whether you're wrestling with bereavement or navigating life transitions, this episode offers both compassionate understanding and practical wisdom. The conversation emphasizes that healing takes time and requires grace for ourselves. Connect with Acorn's Digital Healing Hub for prayer support wherever you are—because no one should journey through grief alone. As we learn to process our losses while cherishing memories, we discover that hope remains present even in our darkest moments.

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"If it ain't all right, it ain't the end." These simple words from an old farmer capture the heart of how Christian faith addresses grief – acknowledging its devastating reality while holding onto ultimate hope.

Grief touches us all, whether through death, broken relationships, lost dreams, or shattered hopes. This episode explores grief through both psychological understanding and spiritual wisdom, weaving together the well-known Kübler-Ross model with biblical insights that offer genuine comfort.

We journey through the five stages – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance – sharing powerful observations from hospital rooms, healing ministries, and personal experiences. Rather than presenting grief as a linear journey with a tidy resolution, we discuss how it spirals throughout our lives, requiring revisits and renewed processing at unexpected moments.

The conversation balances practical insights with spiritual depth. When reality feels unbearable, the reminder that "God's got you" provides an anchor. When anger erupts from our wounded hearts, we find biblical permission to express these feelings honestly to God. As depression weighs heavily, Scripture acknowledges our despair while pointing toward hope: "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him."

What emerges is a compassionate framework for understanding grief that honors both psychological reality and spiritual truth. Grief isn't something we simply "get over" but rather something we learn to carry with God's help. As Elisabeth Kübler-Ross beautifully observed, "People are like stained glass windows - they sparkle when the sun is out, but their true beauty is revealed only when there's light from within."

Listen now to find comfort for your own grief journey or wisdom for supporting others through theirs. And stay tuned for part two, where we'll share more personal stories about how faith creates possibilities even in our darkest moments of loss.

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