Emmaus Program Participants Story: Eric

Erik was a self-described gangster whose enormous charisma drew kids to him. But Erik’s bravado camouflaged a core of fear—fear that life was really just a meaningless battleground where only the strong survived.

On an Emmaus weekend, Erik faced his fear atop a 40-foot high telephone pole in an exercise appropriately called, "The Leap of Faith." As Erik struggled to stand alone atop the pole, he was surprised by the realization that his fear didn’t make him weak—it made him human. On the ground below him were dozens of kids who didn’t think less of him because he was afraid. They thought more of him because he faced his fear. He also realized, in a burst of compassion, that his peers each faced his own fears, as well. Erik decided there was a lot more he could do with his life than become a petty drug lord.

- Jessica's Story

- Javier's Story