I was disappointed with my religious community experience when the vast majority of Christian friends vanished when I needed help caring for my wife. Then my children and stepchildren were worse than absent; they blamed me for all the world's ills.
Reflecting on the whole experience, I have come to understand much about human behavior and the motivation driving it. I forgive, but overall, I will not allow myself to rely on 99% of these people again. Lesson learned.
My view on God is based on science (I majored in physics in college), not tradition or ideology. I never was angry with whomever God is.
Now for the important news: There is a UCC1 church one and a half blocks from my back door, and I hear the bell when it rings often.
I went to the service yesterday and was pleased with the experience.
I walked despite a bad hip and weak heart, and that is something I need (walking); it is beneficial for me.
What is important about the church? It is liberal in its thinking, and that suits me greatly.
Bottom line: I plugged into a social environment and abandoned my isolation.
1 The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainline Protestant denomination formed in 1957 through the merger of several Congregational, Christian, Evangelical, and Reformed traditions. Known for its progressive stance, the UCC strongly advocates for social justice and is famously open and affirming to all, including the LGBTQ+ community.