Hello and I have a story to tell.

[sanchez]

I have just registered and wanted to say hi and to tell someone about my experience on a recent holiday. I am not a religious person, maybe a little spiritual now and then. I dont follow any particular religion but I am a tolerant person with open views. Anyway I had to tell someone about my experience which was very strange and has never happened to me before. I was on holiday in Greece recently, on the island of Rhodes and hired a car to see some of the island. Whilst looking at the scenery I didnt notice a large pothole in the road in front of me and hit it hard with the right front wheel. I carried on driving to find a safe place to stop and check it later but as time went on I forgot about it as I was trying to find a nearby castle to photograph and visit. I came to a fork in the road and wasnt sure which was the correct way to the castle. I took the right fork but this turned out to be the wrong way as I soon saw the castle behind me to the left. Looking for a spot to turn I saw ahead was a little white church with a small car park next to it which was ideal to turn round. I parked up and as the views were spectacular I got out of the car to take pictures. As I was doing this another car came into the car park and the driver said hello and pointed to my right front tyre which was nearly flat. I thanked him and remembered the pothole I had hit earler and started to change the wheel for the spare. After finishing changing the wheel I realised how fortunate this had been, that I had taken the wrong turn and ended up in an ideal spot to change the tyre and that a helpful person had pointed out that the tyre was nearly flat as I had forgotten about it. Being a spiritual person and being in the car park of a lovely church which I had used I thought it appropriate to say thankyou for my good fortune and the use of the sacred place. I said aloud a sort of prayer of thanks (not being religious I didnt really know what to say) but I meant it and it came from the heart. It was then that I had the strangest feeling come over me. It is giving me goosebumps now thinking about it. Its quite hard to explain but the nearest example I can give is when someone tells you a really lovely story and you get a warm, content tingly feeling inside. I then felt such a feeling of great joy that I almost cried out loud. What happened?!!? Was that someone saying "youre welcome?" Was it my subconscious giving out a feeling of relief? If anyone has any views or comments on this I would be very grateful as I have never experienced anything like that before. If that is what praying and giving thanks does then I think I have been missing out for a long time! Thanks for reading my story. Phil

[tomspug]

Hi Phil, it's nice to see you visiting the forums. This is a great place for questions, so you've come to the right place.

Your story is interesting. I would feel foolish trying to come up with a specific explanation for your experience, because I know that when it comes to spirituality, people can be just as diverse as we are physically and emotionally. I can tell you what it sounds like, though, and it sounds like the feeling that you experienced was definitely a RESPONSE to something. It sounds similar to feelings that I have experienced as well, typically in the form of great RELIEF. Kind of like the feeling of relief you get when you are talking to someone and there is an incredibly strong connection.

So do you think it feels like that? Does it feel more like a relationship, a response to someone, or something more basic like "the convenience of these circumstances is strange, possibly divine".

Because on the one hand, the first response seems complex and worth pursuing, while the other seems like the root of superstition, if you get my meaning...

[Wandered Off]

Welcome to RF, Phil. Take a look around the different threads, and you'll find lots of cool experiences that may help you make sense of yours.

[MysticSang'ha]

Tashe delek and welcome to RF!

[stephenw]

Hi Phil,
Interesting stuff! I had an experience that gave me a similar feeling, the best I can rationalise it is that I believe that I am capable of perceiving more complexity than I can process. Good luck with your quest!

[idea]

Originally Posted by sanchez

I have just registered and wanted to say hi and to tell someone about my experience on a recent holiday. I am not a religious person, maybe a little spiritual now and then. I dont follow any particular religion but I am a tolerant person with open views. Anyway I had to tell someone about my experience which was very strange and has never happened to me before. I was on holiday in Greece recently, on the island of Rhodes and hired a car to see some of the island. Whilst looking at the scenery I didnt notice a large pothole in the road in front of me and hit it hard with the right front wheel. I carried on driving to find a safe place to stop and check it later but as time went on I forgot about it as I was trying to find a nearby castle to photograph and visit. I came to a fork in the road and wasnt sure which was the correct way to the castle. I took the right fork but this turned out to be the wrong way as I soon saw the castle behind me to the left. Looking for a spot to turn I saw ahead was a little white church with a small car park next to it which was ideal to turn round. I parked up and as the views were spectacular I got out of the car to take pictures. As I was doing this another car came into the car park and the driver said hello and pointed to my right front tyre which was nearly flat. I thanked him and remembered the pothole I had hit earler and started to change the wheel for the spare. After finishing changing the wheel I realised how fortunate this had been, that I had taken the wrong turn and ended up in an ideal spot to change the tyre and that a helpful person had pointed out that the tyre was nearly flat as I had forgotten about it. Being a spiritual person and being in the car park of a lovely church which I had used I thought it appropriate to say thankyou for my good fortune and the use of the sacred place. I said aloud a sort of prayer of thanks (not being religious I didnt really know what to say) but I meant it and it came from the heart. It was then that I had the strangest feeling come over me. It is giving me goosebumps now thinking about it. Its quite hard to explain but the nearest example I can give is when someone tells you a really lovely story and you get a warm, content tingly feeling inside. I then felt such a feeling of great joy that I almost cried out loud. What happened?!!? Was that someone saying "youre welcome?" Was it my subconscious giving out a feeling of relief? If anyone has any views or comments on this I would be very grateful as I have never experienced anything like that before. If that is what praying and giving thanks does then I think I have been missing out for a long time! Thanks for reading my story. Phil

The experience you describe is that of feeling the Holy Spirit, AKA, the Holy Ghost. God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost - they are actual real entities, and you can actually experience their presence. you used the word "warmth" some have used the word "fire"

Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

from topical guide link
Holy Ghost. The third member of the Godhead and, as the name implies, a personage of Spirit, not possessing a body of flesh and bones (D&C 130:21–22). The Holy Ghost has been manifest in every dispensation of the gospel since the beginning, being first made known to Adam (1 Ne. 10:17–22; Moses 6:51–68). The Holy Ghost is manifested to men on the earth both as the power of the Holy Ghost and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon one before baptism, and is the convincing witness that the gospel is true. It gives one a testimony of Jesus Christ and of his work and the work of his servants upon the earth. The gift can come only after proper and authorized baptism, and is conferred by the laying on of hands, as in Acts 8:12–25 and Moroni 2:1–3. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. More powerful than that which is available before baptism, it acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify him from all sin. Thus it is often spoken of as "fire" (Matt. 3:11; 2 Ne. 31:17; D&C 19:31). The manifestation on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) was the gift of the Holy Ghost that came upon the Twelve, without which they were not ready for their ministries to the world.
For some reason not fully explained in the scriptures, the Holy Ghost did not operate in the fulness among the Jews during the years of Jesus' mortal sojourn (John 7:39; 16:7). Statements to the effect that the Holy Ghost did not come until after Jesus was resurrected must of necessity refer to that particular dispensation only, for it is abundantly clear that the Holy Ghost was operative in earlier dispensations. Furthermore, it has reference only to the gift of the Holy Ghost not being present, since the power of the Holy Ghost was operative during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus; otherwise no one would have received a testimony of the truths that these men taught (cf. Matt. 16:16–17; 1 Cor. 12:3). When a person speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost that same power carries a conviction of the truth into the heart of the hearer (2 Ne. 33:1). The Holy Ghost knows all things (D&C 35:19) and can lead one to know of future events (2 Pet. 1:21).

Welcome to RF!!!

[Charity]

Welcome good to have you with us.............

[whereismynotecard]

Maybe the feeling you got was because you were overjoyed that you came into contact with someone kind enough to inform you of your flat tire, as many people would have probably not even said anything. It's not too often that I come across nice people like that, and when I do, I feel glad for it. Also, welcome to the forums.

[tomspug]

Originally Posted by idea

The experience you describe is that of feeling the Holy Spirit, AKA, the Holy Ghost.

How could you possibly know that with such certainty?