MARILYN LEE:
From Convict To Cover Girl!
By: Wendy M. Reynolds
http://higherheightscorp.com

Everyday God shows His awesome and transforming power through ordinary people. I was reminded of that when I met Marilyn Lee. Her story shows God’s love and His ability to pull us out of our darkest prisons of despair and transform our lives in ways that enable us to empower and help others. The majority of Marilyn’s life has been one lived on the edge, not recognizing how valuable she was until she made a choice that would forever change the course of her life. She has a powerful and amazing story of hope, change, liberation, and restoration.  Her story is guaranteed to touch your heart.  She is living proof that all things are possible with God. Please allow me to introduce you to Marilyn Lee.

Wendy M. Reynolds: Marilyn, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Marilyn Lee: I’m 58 years old. I was born and raised in Long Beach, California. I am a recovering addict. Actually I have recovered. I am no longer hopeless. I was a heroin addict for 38 years. I’ve been incarcerated 18 times. In 2001, I was out of prison for the 18th time and was on my way back six days from being let out. That is when I had my spiritual awakening. That’s when I made the decision to turn my life over to Christ. It was then that I realized I had only been existing in this world. I was 50 years old and I had never lived. I had to do something different.

Wendy: What was your home life like? Tell us about your parents. Do you have any siblings?

Marilyn: I grew up in a family with 4 brothers and 1 sister. My mother was an alcoholic and my father was a hustler. Some people would say, “If only you grew up like me, it’s no wonder you are an addict.”  I no longer blame my family, my mother, or my father. I realize today that I had choices. They say addiction is learned behavior but you get to a point where you can make some choices.

Wendy: How old were you when you started abusing drugs?

Marilyn:  I started using marijuana when I was 10 years.   Afterwards, I started taking pills, like yellow jackets. It progressed to heroin and finally to crack & heroin.

Wendy: Do you know what contributed to the onset of your drug use?

Marilyn: Several things. I am an incest survivor. I held that in for a long time and I believe that is why I stayed in my addiction for so long. It definitely played a major part. When I finally came to grips with the fact that I could live and no longer let that dominate my life, I was able to let it go. I was able to forgive my perpetrator as well as forgive myself and move on with my life.

Wendy: What was life like for you?

Marilyn: I was in and out of jail and prison. I was what they called a booster, a thief for 26 years. That’s how I supported my habit. I started going to jail in 1966 and stopped in 2001. I have my rap sheet. It is amazing. I never stayed out of prison or jail for a year. I went every single year from 1966 until 2001.

Wendy: You had to have lost out on a lot of life.

Marilyn:  Yes I did. In addition, I lost my mother while I was doing a 5-year sentence. I had a real good relationship with my mother. Although my addiction impacted her, I never stole from her. She knew I was a strong woman and that I could take care of myself. I was unable to go to the funeral. When I got out, I was able to go make my peace with that. In addition, I went and took care of her mother.

Wendy: Did you receive any schooling?

Marilyn: I graduated from Youth authority. All of the education I received came from institutions. I’ve always been a person who wanted to learn something. So, I learned a lot, although I didn’t use it much, I’m glad that I did get an education as it is helping me on my journey.

Wendy: How did you become sober?

Marilyn: In 2001, I gave my life to Christ. After promising God that I would make a change in my life, I went into a recovery program. I was supposed to be on my way to prison but this new opportunity was being created to give people the chance to go into treatment instead of prison. With my record, I didn’t think I qualified for the program.

Wendy: So, how did you get in?

Marilyn: I shared a cell with a lady who was looking at a life sentence. She was like a guardian angel.  We prayed and had bible study, something that I had never done. In regards to going to treatment as opposed to prison, she said, “Claim it Marilyn, you’ll get it.” I sat in jail for 5 months and they passed this law, Proposition 36, which made me eligible for treatment. I was initially given a 7-year prison sentence. The judge told me, “I will put this 7 years in red because you’ll be back to get it!” I didn’t say anything, but I knew in my heart that I was not coming back.

I went into the program and did everything they asked me to do. I learned how to set goals for myself. I made it a goal to work for this program and run their sober living program. I wanted to help people. I wanted others to know that change was possible with the help of God. I wanted them to be able to look at my life and actually see change.

Wendy: A lot of people don’t make it through the whole program. Did you finish your program?

Marilyn: Yes. When I graduated from the program, I decided to go to school and be a phlebotomist. You know with me being a heroin addict, I figured I could draw some blood. God has a sense of humor. I went to the school and ran into someone I used to do drugs with. She had been sober for 3 years and was going to school for Human Services. I followed her lead. I got into the field of Human Services while still living in my recovery program. I moved on to the program’s sober living program. They offered me a weekend position. I worked there on the weekend and I lived for 4 years in the sober living program until I got my life together. I became the Assistant Program Director. When I left there I was a Drug and Alcohol Counselor and now I am a Certified Addictions Specialist.
I went to another facility and I continued to go to school. I obtained my Associates Degree in Human Services. Currently, I am working towards my Bachelor’s Degree and I will receive that in January 2010. Afterward, I will go on and get my Masters degree. I want be a Clinical Supervisor. My ultimate goal is to obtain my PhD. After 38 years, I have a PhD from the streets but I need one to put on my wall with the rest of my achievements.
Wendy: Something tells me you’ll definitely get it.

Marilyn: Girl, I know I will. God’s grace and mercy has healed me and I have totally surrendered to the best of my ability. I’m not perfect but I know what God can do. Today I live a life that I never ever thought possible, not as a dope addict.

Wendy: Wow, God has put your feet on a totally different path. Think of the lives you have touched and the lives you can reach because of your experience. I’m sure God is opening many doors.

Marilyn:  Yes, God has opened many doors. I had an opportunity through Cocaine Anonymous to do something I never would have dreamed.  I went to Spain and spoke at a conference about addictions in May. I went all the way to Europe. Me! They gave me a passport and allowed me to board a plane to go talk to some addicts in Spain. That was an experience!! I have never gone anywhere but to prison, jails and institutions and I flew on a plane to Europe and talked about drug addiction!! The life I live is only by the mercy and grace of God!

Wendy: Wow that is amazing. Look at the lives you are impacting from California to Spain. God has taken you from jails and prisons to Europe.

Marilyn: I know. No one had ever asked me to go anywhere but out of their presence. It feels good to be able to help someone else. It feels good to give without false motives. Today I don’t have any motives. Before, you couldn’t even be a part of my life unless you were giving me something. All I want from you today is your honesty. As long as you are honest, I can help you. As long as I am honest, I can get the help that I need. I no longer have an ego. I had an ego as big as Long Beach. I found out from being in recovery that E.G.O. means Edging God Out! I found out that the ego needed to be smashed.

Wendy: You sound happy.

Marilyn: I’ve just celebrated 8 years sober. I have to surpass the 38 years I was in the streets. God has changed my life. I learned how to give Him control. I’ve learned how to forgive myself.  That’s an important step. I read the book Beauty Come Forth. That book was me.  I can’t begin to tell you how each chapter helped me to grow. The chapter on forgiving yourself, whew, that helped to change my life.

Wendy:  Wow. That’s awesome and congratulations on your 8 years! Do you have a word of advice to someone who may be struggling with addictions or life period?

Marilyn: Learn how to surrender to God, let stuff go, and get out of your own head. See I know that my best thinking only got me to where I was. So, I couldn’t depend upon my thinking. My advice to anyone would be to turn your life over to God. Give Him every aspect of it and don’t take it back. Get out of the way and let God help you and show you who you are.  We stuff so much on the inside. It covers up the real us, and the God in us. Once I got sober and started uncovering, discovering and discarding those things that I had piled and stuffed on the inside of me, I started to blossom and shine. God started to come out through me. Now instead of being known for my drug use and prison record, I can leave a spiritual legacy.  I can be known for something beautiful. I can be known for my acts of kindness, my service, and for guiding others to God.

Wendy: Well, you are known for something beautiful and speaking of beauty, as we bring this interview to a close, tell all of the Beauty Come Forth magazine readers how you define beauty?

Marilyn:  Beauty comes deep within. It’s like an unfading, gentle, and quiet spirit that’s great in worth and in Gods sight. You can dress the outside up really good but its how you are living on the inside that matters. Beauty is when the inside in right with God.

Wendy: Marilyn you have truly inspired me. I’m sure your story will inspire and motivate others. I appreciate you taking time to share your story. God bless you as you continue on your journey.

Marilyn: It has been my pleasure.