Late have I loved you,
O Beauty ever ancient, ever new,
late have I loved you!
You were within me,
but I was outside
and it was there
that I searched for you
In my unloveliness I plunged
into the lovely things
which you created.
You were with me,
but I was not with you.
Created things kept me from you
yet if they had not been
they would have not been
at all.
You called,
you shouted,
and you broke through
my deafness.
You flashed,
you shone,
and you dispelled my blindness.
You breathed your fragrance on me
I drew in breath and now I pant for you.
I have tasted you,
now I hunger and thirst for more.
You touched me,
and I burned
for your peace.
~Saint Augustine, 397 AD
6 comments:
You were within me,
but I was outside,
and it was there
that I searched for you.
This is my favorite stanza. So often if I pause and look inward I find "peace" and "the answer." I just need to allow myself time to quiet.
Quiet is very important and a good thing to cultivate. That's why I think monastics have much to teach us.
A lot of us can relate to Augustine words, as we were either ignorant of God or rejected Him. Thankfully, He is full of grace. This is a beautiful prayer!
Evan
Absolutely. There is never enough time to get to know God.
when i started reading that, i thought it was your poetry:D but its nice never the less:)
Oh, I wish, Michele!
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