Just Keep Breathing.
The Whaley Way
Because of Christ’s redemption, I am a new creation of great worth. I am deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing, totally accepted by God and absolutely complete in Christ. I have been made pure by the blood of Christ and have been given the ability to endure all things by the power of His spirit. When hard things happen, I know that I am loved because He has given me the ability to suffer with Him. Even when I run far away from Him, He will not abandon me. He will place me in the belly of the whale and bring me to dry ground. Though darkness may be all around me, I know the light will come. He will provide shade for my head and comfort me even in my failure. So I will rejoice and praise Him knowing that even if I sink to the depth of the ocean, I will meet my savior there once again.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord”
– Romans 8:38-39
Who is Clay Whaley
I suspect no one really knows. I like to think I know myself best, but I can’t be sure. Others have their view of me, ones I may disagree with, while some agree with my own assessment. Like everyone, there are parts of me only I know. It can be difficult to make myself known to others. I often fear rejection and that fear has manifested itself in my life before. I am trying to overcome that by becoming more transparent with the parts of me I’d rather hide. I feel like this allows me to know myself even more. But of course, only God truly knows me. His spirit searches me and reveals myself to me by revealing Himself. I am learning to let go of external identities and hold fast to the identity He gives me. I’ve felt myself change, but it’s more like removing outer layers to get to the truth of who I really am and who I am becoming.
More practically speaking, I am a father, a son, a musician, a writer, a creative being, and above all a child of God.
What I'm Doing Here
I don’t fully know yet, but I know I want to write and share those writtings with others. I have experienced so much, and have learned so much (mostly through failure) and think I might be able to help others who are struggling in life. I have discovered I have a very strange mind and that leads to some interesting thoughts and my creativity expresses those thoughts in unique ways. I plan to publish my writings here for my own development and hope that it will help someone out there, or at least provide enjoyment.
The Why
Over time I have become more and more vulnerable. I’ve noticed that when I share deeply personal experiences with people, it helps them. They see that they are not alone in their marred past. That we all have things we don’t talk about because we’re afraid of rejection. Terrified that people won’t accept us based on things we can’t change. That our past will define who we are now in the eyes of others. I think that’s awful. We are a society of hidden people trying to escape the judgment of others. Scared that we won’t be accepted. Horrified at the idea of someone finding out the truth. I want to change this. I want to help people understand themselves and be free from the perception of others. I am going to lead by example by putting myself out there. Writing about my experiences- even the difficult, embarrassing, perception altering ones. I’ve experienced enough rejection that I’ve realized it’s better to be rejected because of the truth than accepted because of a lie.
I don’t know where this will lead, but I am here to be transparent. Vulnerable. Emotionally exposed. Maybe it will help someone. Maybe it will hurt the perception someone has of me. I don’t know. I just feel in my soul I should publically speak on the pain I have endured and the lessons I have learned.