Everything humanly worthy, and viewable or mentally evident in daily experience, is but a symbol or reminder of that which truly exists as an eternal idea of God. The idea and the symbol are never identical, and the symbol never merges into the idea. The symbol must eventually disappear, since it is only a hint as to that which truly exists.
The symbol is presently important to us because we have not as yet fully awakened to the nature of the genuine idea. Even Christ Jesus had to appear in a form which could be seen, or his message would not have been communicated to receptive but spiritually dull followers.
We love the landscape, but its enjoyment extends further than the momentary visualization of it. The beauty which is generally thought to be in the landscape is truly in the thought of the viewer. Actually, it was included in thought spiritually before he viewed it. The scene before his eyes is merely a vivid reminder that he already reflects of God the ideas symbolized.
