I could imagine and it is great that the mindset is this way when things go bad in a country. The US when the 9/11 attacked occurred really got the people united in a long time to help the victims of this horrible attack. Fire trucks from many states lended a hand to help the victims of the attack.

It surely is amazing when you see the people actually uniting as one regardless of color, thoughts, beliefs.

Today although I see so many radical disagreements on so many topics that I wonder what happened to the moments when we were united as one when we endured such an attack in New York.

Anyway it is sad that we as a people only get together when things go bad. I am not sure how Australia is on politics and beliefs but I know that it is admirable that the nation gets together to help out in a terrible cyclone and flood.

I do know this however that the Buddhist religion or philosophy grows fastest in Australia then in any other nation in the world. I read this somewhere. I also read that Australians read the most then any other nation. Something like 2 books a week on average! I am not sure how valid this is but I found it interesting to read as a statistic at one time.

Anyway cheers for sharing a little something about Australia. Lets me understand a little more about the country and we should all learn more about other countries cultures, lifestyles, beliefs, and ideas. It doesn't hurt at all!

I think the experience was beneficial just because it shows us that we have a stronger inner strength then we can imagine. The pain, the agony, the high requirements, and later the reason why we had to go through basic training taught me a great deal of things, but again I have met many who just hated it and didn't understand the point of such rigorous training and being called these names while training. I knew that the drill sergeants job was to make us tougher and stronger incase we were ever put into a situtation of hopelessness. That "inner strength" that you are talking about is in everyone of us. Some understand it more then others and others don't even know they have it using other methods instead to find strength. So maybe we just have it like you say without truly knowing and use it anyway. It is a type of survival technic that we use instinctively. Am I too off beat on this? I am surely just contemplating as I type not sure if I am getting anywhere with this.

What I can say is that if we push ourselves to the limits we can discover a new self identity at times, yet if we don't and reflect on things deeply in silence we can also come to a different type of inner strength also. Perhaps we need both to really understand the reality of this wisdom we learn each day in our life lessons. You are much older then me so you probably have a deeper understanding of it all.

I guess one can also call it "soul" searching...yes??? Perhaps?

I mean if one gives it a deeper thought about it all.

What dont tell me you exagerate, i would never have noticed
I think that is part of being Australian, we have to make our stories believable..

And it is still very very humid, it has been our wettest summer in history ... But winter is on its way, the days have hit a cool 32 or 90, the air conditioners are off.
And we are set for the harsh cold to hit, maybe it will hit a low of 30 but I hope not..

Ok,

What about my story?

I had a very strong faith. Ended up in a situation I could not get out of where I was screaming for God to help me dozens of times a day. This went on for months.

I know God gave me the help I needed now. But at the time, by the time I received my help, I had stopped believing in His existence.

I didn't doubt God. I KNEW He did not exist.

Had a friend ask me later if I prayed in the 2 years I did not believe. I said no. Why pray to something that doesn't exist.

Today my faith is stronger than it ever has been.

But I have no doubt that before those two years I knew I was saved in my heart and soul...

I know many ppl who have faith but their life is awful and damn hard... They have no strength but only someone who they point like a main reason for their situation and all their problems and believe that this is His will ...

Words 'get a strength when you have faith' sound romantic but they are far from reality . When the times get hard all we need and search for the main thing which creates the conditions where to feel secure and safety - money.

yes, lots of all types everywhere, regardless of their belief


I dont truly think there is any belief that is exclusively from religion, other than a belief in specific prophets and Gods,,,

how did you come to know that it was god that helped you. anything a doubter like me can grasp? faith won't do it for me, for instance, nor would a feeling in your heart. not trying to be a wise *** but these kinds of discussions often take this similar line speaking of knowledge or what you know or i know when we're really talking about something like a gut feeling. so what actually happened that you now know god gave you help?