A number of times on this holiday I have been intrigued with beauty in the buildings that hold national (& international) treasures. While we are all ooh-ing and ahh-ing over magnificent works of art I am struck by the amazing artwork that is held in the ceilings above. And almost everyone else misses it!

What I observed in the National Gallery in London was people racing here and there to view the next item on their to do list while standing beneath the most glorious architecture and not lifting their gaze to see it. I witnessed the occasional person who caught a glimpse, and the look of awe on their face told me they appreciated the beauty above. Some, like me, stopped for longer to soak up the detail, but most charged past, ready to admire the skills of the artists whose work is held in the gilded frames on the wall.

Today we visited one of the most famous galleries of all, the Louvre in Paris, and here I found this situation repeated, but on steroids! Most people, ourselves included, have a short list of the ‘must sees’ in this HUGE building that has so many treasures to see. So much so, that people rarely lift their eyes from the complicated map as they try to work out where they’ve been, where they are and where they’re trying to go.

Time after time, in rooms that seemed to hold nothing too famous it was the ceilings that took our breath away. Joshua could be heard saying, “Look up, mum” and I would invariably respond with ‘Wow!”

I have been considering this for the afternoon and the similarity to life. Often, we can get so caught up with the tasks at hand, or those activities that we are engaged in that we miss some of the greater wonders around us. Even more so when the situation we are in is filled with stress and pain.

My favourite verse in the Bible is Psalm 3 verse 3. It says, “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” Every time I allow God to lift my head high my eyes behold a greater glory than what I see around me. It alters my perspective to a much wider appreciation of ALL that life holds, not just what I can glimpse.

It is a great motto to have in life … Look up!

Be blessed, and keep your eyes high.