Ah, dear Bishop. I have such a complicated relationship with you. Augustine of Hippo, of course, is one of the great fathers of the Christian Church. The author of The Confessions and The City of God, Augustine has left his indelible mark upon Christianity in the West, for better and for worse. He may be best known for his articulation of the doctrine of original sin, a doctrine that we still see repercussions of in our life in 2012. I deeply question the doctrine of original sin; my thought is more aligned to that of Original Blessing put forth by theologian Matthew Fox. Regardless of my ongoing debate with Augustine, I share him with you because he is a Doctor of the Church and his writing is, at times, breathtakingly beautiful. His writings on grace are without comparison during his time. So, enjoy this piece of prose turned poetry from The Confessions. The Patron Saint of brewers and theologians shares the richness of his inner life and passion. Enjoy!
I Came to Love You Too Late
I came to love you too late, Oh Beauty,
So ancient and so new. Yes
I came to love you too late. What did I know?
You were inside me, and I was
out of my body and mind looking
for you.
I drove like an ugly madman against
the beautiful things and beings you made.
You were inside me, but I was not inside you…
You called to me, you cried to me; you broke the bowl
of my deafness; you uncovered my beams and threw them
at me; you rejected my blindness; you blew a fragrant wind
on me and
I sucked in my breath and wanted you; I tasted you and now I want you as I want food and water; you
touched me, and I have been longing ever since to
have your peace.
Your Vegan Adventurer!
