This is pretty awesome. God bless the human race. (The dancers in Syria are blurred for their safety. God bless Syria especially.)
And who the hell is Matt?
Matt is a 35-year-old deadbeat from Connecticut who used to think that all he ever wanted to do in life was make and play videogames. Matt achieved this goal pretty early and enjoyed it for a while, but eventually realized there might be other stuff he was missing out on. In February of 2003, he quit his job in Brisbane, Australia and used the money he’d saved to wander around Asia until it ran out. He made this site so he could keep his family and friends updated about where he is.
A few months into his trip, a travel buddy gave Matt an idea. They were standing around taking pictures in Hanoi, and his friend said “Hey, why don’t you stand over there and do that dance. I’ll record it.” He was referring to a particular dance Matt does. It’s actually the only dance Matt does. He does it badly. Anyway, this turned out to be a very good idea.
A couple years later, someone found the video online and passed it to someone else, who passed it to someone else, and so on. Now Matt is quasi-famous as “That guy who dances on the internet. No, not that guy. The other one. No, not him either. I’ll send you the link. It’s funny.”
THIS IS AWESOME
God loves dancing and joy and his people
I stole this for my blog, but gave you credit, good Padre
Thanks so much
What a beautiful way to interact with all cultures; the joy of dance and movement.
Sorry, but this did not impress me. Why would Jesus be happy with this bloke dancing around the world?
He came on this earth to preach, teach and then die so that we might live, not dance.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. John 6:56 Douay-Rheims Bible
‘Where the Hell is Matt’ is a very suitable title !
Don’t get me wrong Rob, I loathe that ridiculous Lord of the Dance “hymn,” as much as I bet you do. But we should be wary of reductionism in our account of the Lord’s mission. It was borne of love, not duty.
There’s nothing in these inane “celebrations of humanity” which in any diminish or contradict the mystery of the Incarnation and the Paschal Sacrifice. Our Lord created Matt, and loves him, and calls him by name. Ditto for everyone else in those videos. If they can make strangers happy, how much happier must it make our creator?
Yes, Rob, I went too far saying Jesus loves us for dancing, but consider the context of many countries: all kinds of material and spiritual misery, yet people danced for joy with a stranger.
I’m watching these repeatedly and unashamedly for feelgood, just as I did with the Susan Boyle audition: ordinary people spreading hope and happiness in spite of everything.
Matt should get a Nobel Prize for inciting global joy.
And this is why Jesus loves us.
There’s an earlier vid of Matt:
Fr John – Both the videos of Dancing was simply superb. The first video was good dancing but in the second video Matt was simply jumping around with no rythm and yet so many people danced with him and enjoyed themselves. I think Matt is amazing. Dancing breaks barriers and makes people One. Thank you
Fr John – You are good researcher.