Mae Runions

Tree of Life

Richmond Hospital, Richmond B.C., 2007

A multipurpose room in the Minoru Residence wing was being adapted to include a space for religious services and memorials. Howard McIlveen, one of the chaplains worked with me on the details for this commission.

The tree of life has long symbolized the center of the world or the Cosmic Center. This is an extremely ancient and universal idea amongst many cultures and religions. It is the center where the gods or God of religions first created humans and the world.

The following quotation is from the Hebrew Scriptures: Proverbs 3:13, 18.

“Happy is the one who finds Wisdom

and the one who gets understanding....

She is a Tree of Life to those who lay hold of her;

those who hold her fast are called happy.”