The Nature of Rest with Eryn Lynum

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

In this breath-of-fresh-air conversation, Julianne sits down with Eryn Lynum — author of The Nature of Rest and host of the Nat Theo podcast — to talk about what creation teaches us about slowing down. Eryn shares how Sabbath became a healing rhythm for her busy homeschooling family, and why rest is a spiritual practice we can’t afford to ignore.

What Does Rest Actually Look Like in a Family?

Eryn opens up about hitting a wall—homeschooling four kids while running multiple businesses. Their family was exhausted, and what began as an experiment in rest became a lifestyle shift grounded in faith and nature. Sabbath isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about delighting in what God has already done.

She walks listeners through her family’s Friday-to-Saturday Sabbath practice — including simple traditions like Friday night pizza, nature walks, audiobooks, and screen-free connection.

Nature is God’s Classroom for Rest

As a master naturalist, Eryn draws rich parallels between scripture and creation. From birds that shut off half their brain mid-flight to hummingbirds that enter a torpor state, she shows how the natural world reflects our need for pause and restoration.

Rest Rewires Our Brains (and Our Families)

Eryn explains how rest is not just a spiritual discipline, but a biological necessity. When we rest, our executive functioning sharpens, our creativity increases, and our ability to hear from God deepens. She offers easy five-minute practices — like reciting Psalm 23 with “I shall not want” after each line — to recenter weary minds.

What About the Kids?

Surprisingly, it was Eryn’s 11-year-old son who asked, “Can we Sabbath this weekend?” Her kids have grown to cherish this weekly rhythm. From communion and sparkling juice to unscheduled days of play, Sabbath gives them a deep sense of belonging, peace, and joy — far from the hustle of modern family life.

Want the full episode?

🎧 Listen to Episode 28 of The My Outdoorsy Mom Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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