Look Up

I was so excited to be moving to Prague!!  So much history, such beautiful architecture, a castle on a hill, narrow cobblestone streets, Old Town Square, Astronomical Clock (pictured above, by the way), Charles Bridge over the Vltava River, Mala Strana......the list is endless!

Unspoiled by war it is easy to understand why so many movies are filmed in this city.

Our first days in Prague, in July 2001, standing on Old Town Square, I remember telling myself to never get tired of the view, to never take advantage of where I was living.  I reminded myself to always take time to look at my surrounds, enjoy the atmosphere, appreciate the beauty!  I knew how easy it was to become complacent that you forget to look up.

For the first several years it was easy to follow my own words of advice.  I explored, I took in my surroundings, I learned about customs, foods, culture and I could navigate downtown like any local!



As time went on and we settled into our lives in Prague I found I'd sometimes be distracted by the task at hand, get involved in a conversation while walking those cobblestone streets or be so set on getting from point A to point B that I would forget to look up.

It can also be so easy to allow things going on in our lives, the difficulties of expat life, homesickness, a death in the family to distract us that the beauty of it all can begin to fade.  Then I'd realize what I was doing and remind myself to look up!

I think there is a beautiful Biblical message in there too.  How easy it is to allow the difficulties of life to affect us, to try and do things on our own that we forget to rely on the One who loves us so and wants us to just look up to Him for our every need.

Have you ever become complacent, so focused on the daily grind that you forget to look up and enjoy the beauty around you?

Linking up with others sharing their Expat Diaries.

Bohemia on Dwellable