Prayer of Augustine - A Reflection

Tiffany stained-glass window of St. Augustine, in the Lightner Museum, St. Augustine, Florida

Came across this praise-filled cover by Dan Purkapile while reflecting on St. Augustine's life and love for the Lord on his feast day today.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVaXeZVtjhg

"Prayer of Augustine" by Ed Conlin

Verse 1:
O Beauty ancient, O Beauty so new
Late have I loved Thee and feebly yet do.
Though you were with me, I was not with You.

Then You shone Your face and I was blind no more

Chorus:
My heart searches restlessly and finds no rest 'till it rests in Thee.
O Seeker You sought for me, Your love has found me;
I am taken by thee.

Verse 2:
I sought this world and chased its finer things,
Yet were these not in You, they would not have been.
My ceaseless longing hid the deeper truth,
In all my desirings, I was desiring You.

Verse 3:
Lord, in my deafness You cried out to me.
I drew my breath and now Your fragrance I breathe
O Fount of Life, You are forever the same;
O Fire of Love, come set me aflame.

We find ourselves living our lives perhaps not knowing where we are going. We try to find comfort in the things of this world. Yet, just like St. Augustine, we realize that there is a void in our hearts that only the Lord can filled - a God - shaped figure to make our hearts (and souls) complete. That is when we seek the Lord and desire to have Him at the center of our lives, inspiring and motivating us to love and serve Him and His people. Yet, surprisingly for us, He has also been seeking us and knocking on the door of our hearts, patiently waiting for the day when we will let Him in. That's how much He loves us - He will never force down the door of our hearts but when we do open that door, His love encompasses us and, like St. Augustine, all we can say is "O Seeker You sought for me, Your love has found me; I am taken by Thee."

 

I am truly grateful that that the Lord sought for me and that His love has found me! :-D