NOM

So update - I was able to bring the whole family to a UU service this morning (because of GC, they did not have to be at the church for anything, so were free).

Started the morning talking DH into changing out of his suit. - "They do not wear suit and ties at the UU church, people go in jeans and t-shirts" - had a hard time convincing him, but was able to get him to at least go business casual...

I thought it was an amazing service - great music (Indigo girls Galileo, Learn to Fly - Foo Fighters, My sweet Lord...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qJTJNfzvr8

People there were so incredibly friendly, kids I think enjoyed their kids classes - I actually cried a little during the service, these people - they are my kind of people. DH is cynical, cannot say anything nice about anything right now, but it is ok - just takes time...

Angel,
You’re lucky he seems to be getting more on the same page as you.

NOM, especially SPG helped me. He said, “Functional illusions are priceless.” As parents, we understand that winning at Monopoly is not as important as spending time together - the process and fun. Your DH has woken up to the fact that he’s been playing a game - it’s not so life and death serious as he had thought or wanted to believe & maybe he feels a bit fooled for not seeing it before. It’s not that life is without meaning - it’s just now he realizes he & many others had mis-assigned meaning. The game isn’t meaningful - the interactions and inner-stirrings are.

A couple books helped me through that time:
The Power of Now, by E. Tolle &
Putting on the Mind of Christ - which discussed the stages, including dark night of the soul.

Another idea: go with him to various other religious services, so he can see that there are various ways people get inspired and connect spiritually - different ways of finding meaning in this life. We went and it opened our minds - kind of like traveling.