Guest Post: Floyd Chapman's Journey to Sobriety

Floyd Chapman was a student in an April 2015 DUI class I taught and he gave me permission to publish his journey to sobriety. The picture shows Fred as a garden caretaker at Lighthouse Ministries in Lakeland explaining the hydroponics system in a tour of this unique garden. 

In the 1970s I started out with smoking pot and drinking beer. I was influenced by family, peer pressure of friends and my own pressure to fit in with the "IN” crowd. It seemed everyone was having a good time and I was one who never wanted that good time to end. In the 80‘s and 90’s there was more of the same, I did whatever it took to keep my high going legally and illegally. Suddenly there came jail and prison with other so-called friends. 

In the late 90s I really got tired of jail food and tired of those friends. I desired to change things, but I didn’t change all of my addictions. In 1998 my child was born while I was in jail--I had missed the birth. Suddenly I desired to get sober and change. However, I was around users. Finally in late 1999 I stopped using illegal drugs. It was hard to stop cold turkey, but I did it. 

All but one—alcohol. I did not stop drinking and smoking cigarettes. I lied to myself and rationalized. I justified that a few beers was okay.

However, in 2007 after drinking 42 ounces of beer within a hour, I decided to drive home. I blacked out and landed in a ditch. This was lucky because I know I could have killed someone—even a child. This was my last wake-up call. It came down to ME--not all my bad influences. I stopped. 

Then in 2010 I found the Lord. In 2012 I started working for Lighthouse Ministry using my past for good to help others. Life is so much better since then. Good-bye to those years of addictions and hello to sobriety and a better life.me. Suddenly my peers and so-called “friends” were getting worse and so were my addictions.  I did whatever it took to keep my high going legally and illegally. Suddenly there came jail and prison with other so-called friends.

In the late 90s I really got tired of jail food and tired of those friends. I desired to change things, but I didn’t change all of my addictions. In 1998 my child was born while I was in jail--I had missed the birth. Suddenly I desired to get sober and change. However, I was around users. Finally in late 1999 I stopped using illegal drugs. It was hard to stop cold turkey, but I did it.

All but one—alcohol. I did not stop drinking and smoking cigarettes. I lied to myself and rationalized. I justified that a few beers was okay.

However, in 2007 after drinking 42 ounces of beer within a hour, I decided to drive home. I blacked out and landed in a ditch. This was lucky because I know I could have killed someone—even a child. This was my last wake-up call. It came down to ME--not all my bad influences. I stopped.

Then in 2010 I found the Lord. In 2012 I started working for Lighthouse Ministry using my past for good to help others. Life is so much better since then. Good-bye to those years of addictions and hello to sobriety and a better life.

When Alcohol or Drugs Take Over

A young man in his twenties in my last class gave me permission to post what he wrote. I wish the best to this young man and thank him I could post. Here is most of what he wrote.

The Account of My Life-Changing DUI

Before this experience I had slowed down on drinking and ended my drug use. . . . I had no idea of the pain I could cause. I had no regard for others' feelings, at least those closest to me, nor how the world viewed me.

I now see how bad I had gotten, how far I had fallen doing things I swore I never would. I lived as if tomorrow was the end, like nothing mattered. I had many vices. I never felt addicted, but I also didn't see the problem I had. I remember the first time I turned down X and coke. I remember blocking numbers [of people who were my triggers].

Now, [he wrote],

I have hope.

I have inspiration.

I learn.

I question.

I wonder.

I dream.

I pray. . . .

There has been too much of my life wasted, spent on numbing myself to the beauty that the world holds--unknown but bright and new. . . . I'm happy to be becoming myself, finding the answers to my questions.

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous help many who do not have this young man's resolve. Christians also have Biblical Counseling. Treatment and support groups do help. I am losing weight through Weight Watchers. I love this sign about losing weight:

Choose your hard indeed! Change is that--hard. Yet it will be very hard if you go to jail like a Largo, Florida driver who just last week got 44 years in prison for four DUI deaths. The paper reported that DUI driver said, "I'm just lost. I'm terribly lost."