Tree Hugging – Annetta Lammers

She is the tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Proverbs 3:18

Hike the Ontario forests, and it won’t be long to find yourself among the tall and majestic. Hiking a trail on a Fall Saturday afternoon brought me near a noticeably tall maple tree. I could not help but crane my neck up even while feeling tossed about and distracted by some of life’s storms. The tree’s height and impressive girth beaconed me to contemplate its sturdiness. How big was it? Compelled, I approached the tree, wrapped my arms around its strength, and pressed my cheek against its rough bark. No chance at my fingers meeting up on the other side.

There was comfort in hugging that tree. Solid and immovable, it seemed to anchor my flying thoughts. Looking up its length, bark scratching my face, my thoughts and my eye caught the wild movement of the leaves and branches at the top. Colour splaying frantically against the sky echoed the storms I found myself in. My swirling thoughts settled for a moment as what I sensed in my face clashed with what my eyes saw.

Then I heard the Lord whisper a lesson from the tree. He beaconed me to notice the difference between the flailing treetop branches and the intense calm at the trunk’s base. Drawing attention to my feelings, I realized that I might feel like those branches bending and being tossed frantically in the fierce wind. I might feel like bits of me are snapping off in the wind, revealing fear and confusion and a short fuse. I might also be distracted by the wind and movement and fearful of coming loss.

As I embraced the quiet trunk, my heart began to realize that I was standing above the roots of the trees, roots that serve a purpose. Here, the Lord drew my attention to faith and promises. During this branching-tossing season, the roots, my roots, have all along been growing deep into God’s word. Little by daily little His word and His promises have been rich soil for developing a solid tree. This whisper from the Lord spoke of the hope of what He was doing in my life. Faith was growing, though my feelings were saying otherwise. The whisper was also a call to stop and rest. He was inviting me to stop the frantic marching down the path. Rather than chasing my desperate thoughts, I am to be still and let faith in His word do its work.

She is the tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Proverbs 3:18

Who is “she” in this verse? The answer is found in the verses and chapters before. “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,” says Proverbs 3:1. “She” is Wisdom and Wisdom “is a veiled presentation of Christ Himself¹” Right here, in this knowledge, is a wealth of treasure and my tree-hugging lesson takes on new meaning. There is life and blessing to those who “lay hold” of Jesus.

The phrase “lay hold” is chazaq, in Hebrew. This word means more than to hold onto or seize, though that meaning is undoubtedly there. More fully, it means to be, or grow firm or strong, strengthen. At its root, it also means to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong. Figuratively, it means courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify. There is strength and help in the very “taking hold” of the tree of life. What I find beautiful is that the very meaning of the Hebrew word reinforces the truth of the life and strength found in taking hold of our Wisdom, Jesus.

The words “hold fast” sound similar in English to “lay hold,” but the Hebrew used is different. The term is tamak . Here the meaning of holding, or to grasp, support, attain, is there but also carries, at its root, the sense of retaining the object or person. One is blessed, or happy, in continuing to keep a hold on Jesus in our lives.

We can’t avoid the storms of life. Branches will break. If, however, our focus is on the mighty winds, we can forget the power of roots of faith sinking deep into the soil of His promises. If we find ourselves believing we are the fragile branches rather than one who holds fast, without letting go, no matter the feelings, to our tree of life, we will miss out on the courage and strength he gives beneath our hug.

Lord Jesus, you are Wisdom and Life. You are the One I lay hold of and hold fast to, trusting You. I trust that faith is growing deep roots even when I feel bits of myself flying about in the winds and storms of circumstances around me. I trust Your blessing in simply holding You. I trust all Your promises are available to me as a great supply.