What we can learn from Erie Sister Mary Miller's 'Way' - memorialized in a new street sign

Everyone clapped as Benedictine Sisters pulled on a string unveiling a new honorary street sign: "Sister Mary Miller Way." It was May 13, the day before the first anniversary of her death, and the corner of East 11th and Holland streets was crowded: the staff; board members; and guests of Emmaus Ministries, where Sister Mary had served as director for 42 years; members of the SONS of Lake Erie; politicians; Benedictine Sisters; community leaders; children from the Kids Cafe; and friends gathered around the sign.

This was the culmination of months of work, spearheaded by the SONS of Lake Erie and their former president, Ed Kissell, an organization who has a long history with Emmaus.

For years, the SONS have hosted an annual fish fry for soup kitchen guests each September, serving perch and walleye from our lake, which they catch throughout the summer months. It was always one of Sister Mary's favorite evenings at the soup kitchen, not only because she herself loved fish, but because it was a true experience of community, and service, and abundance. During the street ceremony, the SONS also announced the annual event at our soup kitchen will now bear her name, too: The Sister Mary Miller Fish Fry.

Standing on that corner, looking out at the group that had worked so hard to memorialize her like this, it seemed very significant to me that the honorary title for the street was "Sister Mary Miller Way." After all, it wasn't just her work itself that attracted people to Emmaus, but rather it was the "way" that Sister Mary had about her. Out of the hundreds of volunteers who walk through the Emmaus doors and become part of the family, the vast majority would attribute their involvement to some connection with our well-known and much-beloved former director. And the thousands of guests who have come to us over the years experienced her "way," too, finding in her a compassionate and interested listener who encouraged them and trusted in their inherent goodness and worth, regardless of how rejected they were by society.

Sister Mary's "Way" was totally inclusive; the gift of her presence was available to all. Sister Mary even went to visit Scott Schroat in prison after he killed Lila Ebright in 1992, in one of the most well-documented murder cases in our city's history. Years later she would tell the story that while visiting Scott, she shared with him her image of God, and said that even though she couldn't comprehend what would cause him to commit such a heinous and seemingly unforgivable crime, the God she believed in was one who loves and forgives unconditionally.

Sister Mary's "way" was one of engaging others and welcoming them in, giving them a glimpse of the wideness of God's love. I read once that, "It is only by embracing all that we can become the arms of God." What better image of a wide embrace could we find in our community than Sister Mary's?

I believe Sister Mary's "way" resulted both from her formation in her "community of origin" — the Sisters of Saint Joseph, where she was a member for 24 years — and the Rule of Life that is followed by her second religious community, my own — the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. She would often quote Maxim 52, one of the short teachings written to guide the Sisters of Saint Joseph, which says: "Interpret all things from the best possible point of view." Sometimes I would tell her about a minor frustration or annoyance when we'd catch up in the office each morning, and she'd always respond the same way, never giving in to my ego's grievances: "Honey, have you tried to see it this way instead?" That "way" was always a kinder, more gentle perspective.

The Rule of Benedict, a 1,500-year-old Way of Life, followed by Benedictines and other religious communities around the world, exhorts those who follow it to "welcome all as Christ." How different would it look if we treated each person we encountered as if they were an image of God in our midst? I certainly know I have a long way to go to get there, and I also know that Sister Mary did it with such an authenticity that left everyone she met feeling a little holier and more special.

To "interpret everything from the best possible point of view" and to "welcome all as Christ." It's pretty simple — and definitely solid — wisdom for living life. I am learning, over time, that both of these lessons take a lifetime of practice. Good teachers, like Sister Mary, help us along our own way.

In my remarks during the unveiling ceremony, I shared a story about another wise teacher:

An ancient Zen story teaches that a beloved teacher was nearing death, and asked her students to take her out into the forest, although it was late at night.

They could see that she was taking her final breaths, and, weeping, they said, "Teacher, are you going to leave us out here in the dark?"

She answered, "No, my dear students — I am going to leave you searching for the light."

It is not Sister Mary that we need. It's the way that she had about her. And that way is one that we can follow, much more easily now that we have had a model the likes of her to guide us.

While I can lay no claim to knowing what happens after this life ends, Sister Mary now knows. I do believe, though, that "eternal life" must have something to do with the impact one made while here on earth and the way that impact and energy are carried forth in the ones you loved. Indeed, then, the scope of Sister Mary's impact and energy are great and alive and well.

More: Sister Mary Miller ran Emmaus Soup Kitchen for 42 years. How Erie honored her service

Let us carry Sister Mary Miller's "Way" beyond East 11th Street and into our world.

Sister Valerie Luckey, OSB, director of Emmaus Ministries, is a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie and can be reached at vluckey@emmauserie.org. Learn more about Emmaus, including special events for the 50th anniversary, at www.emmauserie.org, and watch this space for more commentary on how to address the needs of Erie’s most vulnerable people.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: New street sign honors Sister Mary Miller's life of service in Erie