I’m so sorry about that. I feel like the trans and gender-expansive singers that I have sung with are really contributing to the community, and making the singing better. I hope you’re able to make more connections with people who want to sing with you. They’re out there.

Somewhere in my 50s for me - but I still don’t feel like an adult all the time.

Yes, there are certainly other atheists at Sacred Harp singings already. Having some kind of emotional connection to the songs is helpful (like nostalgia for singing in church when you were growing up), but you can also find meaning in the words even if it's not exactly what you believe.

I once could mourn o'er dying men, and longed their souls to win
I travailed for their poor children, and warned them of their sin
But now my heart's so careless grown, although they're drowned in vice
My bowels o'er them cease to yearn, my tears have left mine eyes.
(2012 Cooper Book, #67, verse 4)

There's no exit ramp from a shutdown, but there's also no exit ramp from going along with each successively more terrible thing that the Republicans do, because it could be even worse.

I said I know a shutdown is going to be awful, and possibly give Trump more power to wreck things -- BUT THEY'RE DOING IT ANYWAY. Isn't it better if they have to do it without support from Democratic senators?

I failed to save a copy of what I wrote, and it vanishes as soon as you submit through the email form. I'm sure it was very eloquent (just kidding).