Late have I loved You – The Prayer of my Life

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 in you 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.

Augustine’s poetic words are the story of my life. For all of my high school and university years, God was within me, but I was outside and it was there I searched for Him. My restless heart yearned for the Father’s Love. My restless heart consumed all the world had to offer. He called, He shouted, and He finally broke through my deafness! He flashed, He shone, and He finally dispelled my blindness! I pant for Him! I hunger and thirst for more! I burn for His peace!

May these words be a constant reminder of our ultimate desires for union with God.