This article is more than just an update. It's also a bit of a follow-up to Scott's article, Religion - Who Needs it? I have no motives behind writing it this way; I have nothing to hide.

Yesterday morning (locally), I prayed a little to the creator of all things. I was in pain and suffering tremendously. My lower left leg was almost double the size of my lower right leg. I received answers about my situation and it was all fetched from my own memories and knowledge. Religion does not teach us how to pray or how to understand the answers when we ask questions. I have had great success in my personal life since I cut out the middlemen.

Since my wife departed on the 20th of May, my son had behaved as if she never left. We used to call him Prince Jon because he always expected to be cared for and fed and such and would only do his part when forced to do so. Even if I asked, he wouldn't do something as simple as washing dishes (unless I later told him, not giving him a choice). God put the hurt on me on June 10th in order to teach him selflessness. That was the sole purpose.

Since that day, Jon has cooked and cleaned and tended to my care — until yesterday when he started his first day of his second year of college. When he arrived home, there was one thing I had to have him do and it was part of the reason the swelling didn't start going down immediately. God's purpose was served, but I wasn't prepared for recovery.

Remembering a lesson from a biochemist I knew back in the 90s (and not Scott), your body requires certain compounds for tissue regeneration. Protein, water, and sugar are three that I can remember offhand. Sugar! I had no sugar content in my food or drink since getting ill. I had only been drinking water for more than a week and a minimal amount of food and no fruit.

I had Jon make me a glass of sweetened iced tea. Just one. When I awoke this morning, both he and I were amazed that the swelling had gone down considerably, more than halfway. I will be drinking another glass this evening, after he returns home from school.

You may have heard the phrase that says, "God works in mysterious ways." It's not mysterious at all once you keep religion out of the picture.