A stumble, and then another chance for an ex-con

After weeks of silence, some good news from Colwin Williams.

Williams, the ex-con who I’ve been writing about since April, isn’t going back to prison.

That was a very real possibility after he recently admitted smoking synthetic marijuana, a violation of his release after more than 18 years in jail.

Corrections officials gave him a break after he confessed, he said. They also took into account his community service – something that helped him heal, but also, he admits, distracted him from taking care of himself.

“When I was done talking to people, I felt it was a blessing if just one person heard my story and was touched by it in some way. But it was also a curse because I still had to walk away with my demons.”

He’ll attend a drug and alcohol program three times a week and intensive counseling.

His social passes are scheduled to be reinstated this week. He’s eager to see his family; especially his 18-year-old son, who he said is still getting into trouble.

And despite the setbacks, Williams said he will continue to share his story.

“I want to make it authentic. Let them know it’s human. It’s not the setback; it’s the get back.”

“My next chapter is going to be much better,” he said.