Many of you followed Eric’s personal pilgrimage throughout Spain and his journey to increase awareness and fundraise for hospice care just over a year ago through his “Walk With E” crusade. Last year, on September 21, Eric stood on the “Edge of the Earth” in Finnistere, Spain. This is where Eric shared that he left his fears behind. The next day, Eric spent resting, packing and preparing for his trip home. And, on September 23, 2013, Eric travelled home from his life-changing journey. He was very happy to see his loved ones, to share his stories and to continue his volunteer work at hospice after his expedition.
Exactly one year after he traveled home from Spain, Eric made his final journey Home, on September 23, 2014 under the care of his friends at St. Elizabeth Hospice. Eric leaves behind a loving family, wonderful friends and many others who were inspired by his perspective, his journey and his life.
The best way to honor Eric is to share some of his own words from this blog:
“I think it’s good to be curious about that which is inevitable in our lives. Far from being a downer, preparing for what is inevitable is the best way I can think of to free yourself to fully live your life. Fear is a lie. An open heart cancels fear. Open your heart and truly live.”
“What finally sank in for me today, was how the pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago reflected my entire life. When I was young, I struggled mightily to establish myself in a trade. I knew that I had to work hard if I wanted to have any of the things that constitute ‘the good life’ — a house, car, savings, etc. But, after a while, the hard work started to pay off, and I got my trail legs for walking through life. I learned how to ‘pull’ the uphills and not go ‘runaway’ on the downhills. I could see the end of the road coming. Then, life took an interesting twist, and instead of arriving at the cathedral with a couple of more days walking to get to the end, I was thrust suddenly to the end. I stood on the rocks looking out over the Atlantic and understood how people could think this was the end of the world. There is nothing but blue water for as far as the eye can see. It has a quality of the eternal in that you almost can’t conceive of how much water you’re really looking at. If I could have gotten 2,000 feet higher, all I would have seen was water. No end in sight. Figuratively I’m somewhere on ‘the Road.’ I don’t know where I am, or how far I have to go to get to ‘Earth’s end,’ but I know it’s coming. The difference is when I actually arrive, the water won’t be a stopping point, but a new beginning.”
Eric’s obituary can be found below. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nky/obituary.aspx?n=eric-h-miller&pid=172565031&fhid=20590