Chapters 7-8

During this reading we see the daily life of Robinson Crusoe. Stranded on an island on alone he really has to use and depend on his survival skills/instincts. He kills animals for food, he uses a cave and tent to call his home, he furnishes his new home with shelves and a desk made entirely from things on the island...a tree. Since it was getting dark around 7 he would always have to go to bed because there was nothing he could do without light. One day, he decided to make a lamp out of fluids/parts of animals that he kills for food. He got this idea from remembering to to make a candle out of wax - he just turned the materials around and used something else. It amazes me what Crusoe is able to do/make on this island with parts of animals, or things from plant life. Where did he learn these skills of survival?? Sure some of it may be luck and instinct, but DEFFINATELY not all of it. He has adapted to this island and new ways of living and so far he has adapted very well...but how?! All his hard work was damaged when an earthquake shattered his home. Crusoe had no other choice but to rebuild it. Then Crusoe got sick. Around these two events he asked God "Why me!?". But then reality hits him - God has been on his side the whole time, God has protected his life - Crusoe could have been killed along time ago. After getting over this illness his relationship with religion becomes stronger and it seems more sincere then earlier. In the beginning I feel like he turned to God and religion "just because" - he was near death, it was a quick last minute decision. Which is totally understandable. This time his feelings seem more genuine. His new faith helps him see things in a different light. Instead of seeing the island as a place of captivity he turns things around and is grateful for what he has. Shortly after, his one year anniversary came, from which he landed on this island. Crusoe keeps track of what he believes the date is by making marks on a wooden cross with the date he came a shore engraved on it. He also keeps a journal of daily events that happen, until his pen began to run out of ink - which is when he decided to save the ink and only write about the most important events that happen. I can't believe Crusoe has survived so long on this island, by himself, with almost nothing. How much longer can he last? I know I would not be able to survive on my own on a deserted island. Will he be on this island for the rest of the story?...or will a ship pass by and Crusoe go chasing after it?