St. Augustine: Late have I loved you...

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Having chosen to work with (i.e. learn from) St. Augustine for my M.A. thesis, it seems that all I'm reading is either about him or by him.  I'm okay with that.  I have discovered a man from whom I can learn to follow and seek God, whose example moves me with desire.  So often do his ancient words inspire my soul to magnify God and take joy in his mysteries:

Late have I loved you,
O Beauty so ancient and so 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 not have 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.

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