Hey sorry for the late blog again, not much going on this week, just the same old training. So, I’ve been digging through some old emails that I’ve had saved for a while and thought I would share them with you:
LEGEND OF THE CHEROKEE
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth’s rite of Passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he does this, he must not talk about it.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him.
Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat
stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.
It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.
He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone..Even when we don’t know it, God is watching over us,
Sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, All we have to do is reach out to Him.
Moral of the story:
Just because you can’t see God, Doesn’t mean He is not there. ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou will revive me; thou shall stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)
October 8th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Bravo my friend.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Keep sharing the Good News my brother.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
So who’s next why not the retirement after Serra I mean I don’t need to see all this army sleeping blog stuff. I want to see you carry someone across the octagon and slam them. People react to losses differently I think you got more in your tank than you think. your stand up and dirty boxing ala randy couture needs improvement. You still got it man quit hunting so damn much and find the love and excitement again you are a beast dude wrestle wrestle wrestle it wins matches relentless take down attempts you can do this whoop koschecks ass and you will be back on track he is a tough opponent, and quick and powerful with good stand up. So train for that, but with who, when you are the best in your gym. It’s up to you but you have to mix some things up or set up a retirement fight man I cant stand seeing you lose or not G&P some one. Best of luck man I hope we see a happy ending money cant buy a happy ending and self satifaction. Only heart, confidence, and determination can. I just can’t see what’s next It would be different after the serra fight if you had stated you were gonna try to make one last run at the title. Or do you not feel that’s realistic…. If not well… keep hunting. God Bless matt you and yours. will be cheering and beating people up on ufc undisputed with ya.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Matt, Great to hear from you. Awesome stories and versus. I like the story of the man on the stump. I keep waiting for a big anouncement on who you are fighting next and when. I think you should be fighting more often sometimes its so long for fighters to fight again it just seems to long. Good luck hunting and training. I will be driving through St. Louis to go to Colorado, maybe will see hitsquad. God Bless.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:18 am
I am thinking that Keith should get his fat ass off the couch and go dig a hole and sleep in it a couple of nights. He is obviously one of the people who need to see pictures like that to help him remember what we are doing over there. What have you done Keith? I hope you are some kind of commando or you have at least served your country in some way maybe you are a cop or a fireman. I got a feeling that your not. Those guy’s are over there doing what maybe you should be doing. Maybe this is pretty harsh. Maybe your loose comment wasn’t intended the way it came across. When I read it though my blood began to boil. Joe
October 9th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Matt~ Thank you for sharing the EMails and the verse. This weeks verse is so fitting to my nephew that I have posted it on his facebook. His name is Caleb Reynolds, hes a good Christian boy age 21 and he is in his pre war training in Texas now. Caleb will be leaving for Iraq right after Thanksgiving. Although I know hes infantry and going into a VERY dangerous place I cant help but to feel peace because I know he has a relationship with God, I do know that the Lord loves him. Thank you for standing behind our men and women in camo, they hold a special place in my heart. You havent posted pics of any bloody deer so Im assuming that the right one hasnt walked past your stand yet! ;-) Cant wait for next weeks blog.
Joe Dunn~ Thank you! Thank you for standing up for the ones who stand up for us! I think what is happening here is that Keith is thinking of Matt Hughes as only a fighter, some of us do realize that Matt Hughes is also a human being. One that perhaps likes to spend time with his family, do a little hunting and pay tribute to HIS heroes. Im sure that Keith doesnt eat,sleep and breathe his job either, and if he does Keith~ dude take a break! :-)
October 9th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Matt i cant believe that you are so inconsiderate. How dare you think about our troops, their families, and anything other than the ufc and Keith. Keith is obviously way more important and would like you to focus on being all about yourself. Put the video game controller down buddy, walk outside and see what matt is talking about. Matt these blogs made me a bigger fan. Its nice to know that there are athletes and heros like you.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Matt, thank you for all of your posts. It’s amazing that you support our troops and are not afraid to stand up for what you believe in. I don’t know if you know this or not but you have a whole group of relatives (mostly cousins) in Litchfield and Hillsboro that get together every time you fight and watch and support you. So keep doing what you do best. I’m proud to call you family regardless of being a distant cousin. If you ever are in California doing a signing or something I’ll try to stop by and meet you. God bless.
October 11th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Matt,
Thank you for sharing the verses of the Good News & for always supporting OUR Troops. The emails you posted are some of my favorites. It’s nice to see someone in the lime light so down to earth. You, my friend are a true hero. God Bless
October 12th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Guys, I know what you’re trying to do, but cut this Keith guy a break. I don’t agree with the man at all, I respect and love the fact that Matt is a complete human being with a strong heart and mind and a compassionate soul. But this guy is a human being too and after offering his opinion on Matts career I don’t think it’s fair that he gets blind-sided by twenty people he doesn’t know. Like I said, I don’t agree. But a blog is a place to talk about opinions. He had one. We didn’t like it. It’s not a big deal.
Matt, I loved the story. It actually really helped me. I’m going through kind of a rough spot and I found it very encouraging. God’s looking out for us most when it looks the most bleak. It’s the kind of thing a christian needs to remember when life’s tossing lemons.
October 12th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I am not sure Keith was being anti american. It sounds like he just wants to see matt back on the top of the heap. Might be driving through granite maybe swing by HIT squad. Keep working hard buddy
October 12th, 2009 at 9:45 am
thank you for supporting our troops!! my bro is a new marine…and its comforting to know he has the support of another great man!
October 12th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Happy Birthday and lots of love from Europe Matt!!!
October 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am
In no way did I mean to come off like I don’t have respect for our troops. So I apologize for that. Lance the heroes in this world our teachers, parents, or some one who has affected your life in a positive way that has helped mold you into being a better person. The heroes are over seas fighting for our freedom. I am a big fan of Matt’s and that’s it I know him only from TV and blogs…Not enough to be considered a hero in my eyes. No disrespect intended to Matt. I think all mma fighters have huge balls for crawling into a cage and spilling blood but that’s still different than heroism atleast to me. I felt I had to respond so there it is sorry again to those I offended. BUT some of you need to relax on the spirit and compassionate soul stuff.(I go to church on sundays so dont go there anybody) Hey Joe Dunn chill out man I bet you’re a dandy. I told it like I see it sorry if you dont want to hear it. Good Luck Matt… I just want to see a great ending Serra would have been great for me. Though I am not ready to stop watching Matt fight. So I am sure it is hard for Matt to stop doing what he loves. I know there will be a great ending to his career it couldn’t be written any other way. now back off joe dunn or my fat ass will make you tap
October 13th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Keith, I appreciate the apology and it is good to hear that you respect the troops. I hoped that you just made a loose comment and apparently that is all that it was. You obviously felt attacked by me and rightly so. This is a very serious issue for me and many others. When it comes to supporting our troops I won’t be “chillin” about it. Why don’t you stick with the apologies instead of the career advice, weak threats and lame insults. I called you out on something so why not just Man Up!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Happy Birthday Guy’s
October 15th, 2009 at 12:11 am
Hey JD what the hell is wrong with you. I mean who doesn’t respect the troops you completely twisted what I wrote to begin with. The whole tap out thing was a joke man and trust me you do need to “”CHILL”"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no need to turn a blog entry about a mma fighter into something political you’re a goof ball. And what’s up with the Man Up shit….. are you serious. Is there a need to write about how I serve my country or am serving our country. No and there wasn’t a need for you to bring it up. It has nothing to do with my blog entry. I am not ready for some lame opponents for Matt I want to see him make one more run at the title that’s all there was to my entry. So what you view as a loose comment some one else might view as a fan who just wants to know what the plan is and who and what’s next for matt. So now I am calling you out on being a blowhard… Man Up Your Self. Do, Don’t talk and you will be felt but possibly not noticed. Can you handle that I don’t think so. Save it your Dunn
October 15th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Keith, Maybe this has gotten a little out of control. What got me riled with you is after looking at the troops sleeping in the rain, on the pavement, in the modified foxholes and then those Marines forming the words 9-11 we remember. That touches my heart. Those guy’s and girls are very young and they could be gone any moment. They are over there by choice too. When you said that” I don’t need to see all this army sleeping blog stuff” it got me upset. There are many in our country who are tired of the war and they are forgetting 9-11. Even though I have seen those pics before they still had an effect on me which I am glad for. You made a loose comment I guess I could say no big deal. We all say things we don’t mean some times. But your response was just as bad. You could have just stuck with clearing the air with a statement about your support for the troops but you didn’t.So after reading your very abrasive entry I am thinking I did hit a nerve and maybe I could have played along with the tap out comment a little better. But I think you are still missing the point. I didn’t bring up Matt or his career. My comments were pertaining to the pics of the troops and your comment. So I will not insult you. I want to say that I am not trying to make you look bad or feel bad. I think you are a big fan of Matt Hughes and that is cool in my book. If I stung you a little bit I apologize. I hope this will clear things up. I also think there are a lot of good men and women who are very patriotic and love our country who have never served in the military or been a cop or fireman. I am sure you are one of those people. So let’s move on what do you say. Or I might have to make your fat ass Tap. Just Joking LoL.
Hey I am not much of a blogger anyways. So I hope we are cool. Joe
October 20th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Hi Matt,
Seeing the last picture on this post really reminded me of some thoughts that I wanted to ask for your perspective on. Let me start of by saying that I remember and always will remember 9/11 like it was yesterday. At the time I was in high school and when the towers went down we could see from New Jersey the smoke and dust from them. I also had fellow students (my class had about 300 students) who’s parents worked in the towers and were victims of the attacks so the whole experience of that day really touched each and every one of us here on a personal note as I’m sure it did across the country.
Towards the end of the campaigning for President in 2008 some of the rhetoric coming from Republican side really bothered me. Specifically, the comments being made by some about “Real American” and “Real Americans” vs those who are “Anti American” and from “Anti American” parts of the country. It’s no secret that those who were saying those things were referring to areas such as the northeast regions, specifically New York City and the northern metropolitan areas of New Jersey (where I am from) where on paper and statistically it seems that we’re more left leaning and Democratic. I personally found it offensive that my fellow citizens, especially leaders, would call out other citizens as being Anti or Un-American because from how I was raised we as Americans are a people of differing personal opinions, views, and beliefs, which is what makes us unique as a people. I’ve always felt being from an area of great diversity of cultures, faiths, and ethnicities that being American is not defined by the color of one’s skin or ethnicity, but rather being American is a unique state of mind that cannot be found in another other nation on the planet. That state of of mind encompasses the notion that we as individuals are free to believe and think what we want and yet we are united by the values of working hard for the greater good of yourself, your family, your home, your community, your state, and ultimately our nation.
I myself was born in the USA in New Jersey, however my parents came to this country form Taiwan in the 80s and got their college and graduate degrees here in the USA and ultimately became citizens themselves.
I just wanted to see what your thoughts were on what I’m saying since on paper it would seem that we’re two very different people, yet we’re both citizens of this great country.
Thanks and if nothing else I’ve been and still am a great fan of yours and appreciate everything you’ve done in MMA.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Keith….you’re a jackass. end of story.
October 28th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I would just like to commend you on all the wonderful quotations and pictures you post; they are truely inspirational and thought-provoking. Please continue to be so creative! :)
December 16th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I love watching you fight man in my eyes you are the best welterweight there is, and the fact that you are a country boy who farms and likes to hunt even ,akes it better. You have nothing else to prove in the cage but I would love to see you fight some more you helped make the sport what it is. Good Luck and God Bless Man