Great thread and wonderful stories.
SpringyDaffs Your post describing how you found God really moved me, please don't ever feel 
about sharing your story.
Monty I have prayed for your son. I tend to pray more with images than words, and I have asked that your son be held and supported by God's love and that his soul is surrounded with the light.
My finding faith was a series of events, culminating in a physical experience where I was sitting on a rock on a hill in the countryside, meditating. For some unknown reason I decided to do three 'Oms' (surprising because that's not really my style!) and on the third 'Om' this incredible, enormously powerful rush of energy just surged through me - so hard to put it into words!! It was like Niagra Falls the energy was so strong, rushing up from the earth, through my body and connecting with everything. Physically I was convinced I was falling down the hill (the rock was jutting out over a steep drop) and I had to open my eyes to check I was still sitting there. It was quite frightening actually, I was gripping the rock to try and anchor myself and had to keep repeating in my mind to be calm and let it happen, so powerful was the sensation. And then, for a glorious and terrifying moment, I saw and understood everything - like the heavens parted for a split second and Truth was revealed... The understanding that God is Love, that all is one and that we are part of Creator - that God is in every atom, that the point of human existence is to use our freewill to learn and grow in understanding back towards oneness with God... It was extraordinary, and utterly life-changing. Then it all subsided and I was left sitting there, in wonder and amazement.
Blimey!! Sorry if I sound a bit crackers. It's still very difficult to talk about...
So that was 'the big one', that finally and firmly planted the mustard seed of faith that then became like a key to unlocking so many things.
I went to church as a child, lost my faith as teenager and felt angry and abandoned. I was one of those atheists who felt the need to tell anyone who had faith why they were wrong to believe. I thought only 'weak' people needed a belief in God. What utter rubbish! After I told my mum (who has a very deep and personal faith) about my experience she was of course over-joyed, but then warned me - "Now the hard work starts". Blimey was she right!!
After my experience, I had a fairly intense period of insights dropping into my head and mental gymnastics to work through everything- I suppose it could be likened to always being short-sighted and suddenly being given a new pair of glasses. I had to look at and examine everything through this new pair of glasses, including my past. Suddenly I saw God all along... you know like that story of footsteps on the beach and God carrying you when the going gets tough? The times when I had been on my knees sobbing for the help and comfort of God, and all I felt a swirling black nothingness, it was breaking God's heart that I couldn't feel 'her' comfort. But I had to tread that path, and destroy my old notions of 'God', before I could really find faith. That was the way for me.
This experience sitting on the rock was about 2 years ago, and since then I've been trying to find the right spiritual practice for me to develop within, and I haven't found it yet. (To be honest, I don't even like the word 'God' as it reminds me too much of the Old Testament description, but it seemed appropriate to use it here...)
Sometimes I feel really close and connected to 'the universe' / 'God' / 'the great mystery' / the 'Creator'. Other times I feel far far away, lost and a bit confused as to what I'm meant to be doing. Sometimes I pray / meditate and it's like a conversation - I ask and get answers, I feel a presence and am comforted. Other times it's like knocking on a door that won't open.
My turn to do a for such a long post!! Thank you if you've managed to read it all 