A name I’ve carried for years.
Nacre is mother-of-pearl, the material an oyster can build in layers around an irritant. That image has stayed with me. We all encounter things that unsettle us: disappointments, setbacks, hurt, and questions that refuse to go away. Over time, the way we understand those experiences can change what we carry forward from them.
My own life has brought plenty of challenges and setbacks. Some have touched the spiritual beliefs I held for much of my life. Looking at those beliefs again has meant asking difficult questions and allowing my understanding to change.
What I can see now.
Later in life, I can look back with a perspective I didn’t have while I was going through those experiences. I can see how many of them contributed to my growth and helped me become stronger. Some brought me to a deeper understanding of myself. Others opened my eyes to possibilities I might once have dismissed.
I couldn’t always see that at the time. When something hurts, it can fill our whole view. Distance, patience, and reflection have helped me see more of the picture.
What I hope you find here.
My hope is that Nacre offers you room to look beyond a setback, beyond the hurt or irritant, and consider what might still grow around it. Perhaps a clearer boundary, a belief you have examined for yourself, or a little more trust in your ability to meet what comes next.
Those are the layers I hope we can explore here: strength, understanding, belief, and resilience, formed through the lives we actually live.
I’m still asking questions and discovering what feels true to me. I hope these reflections offer you something useful as you do the same.
I’m glad you’re here.
Rob
