One thing I look forward to at the end or beginning of the year is a recap of memorable events from the previous year. Included in those events is a list of people who passed away during the previous year. Two memorable individuals left messages for all of us. Both had messages about hammers.

Peter Yarrow, a singer and songwriter, best known as the “Peter” in Peter, Paul, and Mary, gave us a legacy of folk music. Three songs may help us manage current events happening around us and actions we can take. Each song is still sung around campfires, movies, and gatherings. Together they provide a call to action for today.

Yarrow, interviewed a few years ago, described their songs and meaning. He believed the songs provided a belief of what could be. He went on to say that the songs were not meant to be entertainment nor meant to be political. Just human beings trying to make sense out of a troubled world and to celebrate the joys that exist despite the problems.

Puff, the Magic Dragon was the most popular song written by Peter Yarrow. The song is about the loss of childhood innocence via the story of a dragon and his playmate, Jackie Paper, as they share adventures in the imaginary land of Honalee. Over time, Jackie grows older and abandons his childhood games, leaving Puff alone and saddened.

Blowin’ in the Wind, written by Bob Dylan, was also recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary. The answer is blowing in the Wind but leaves the listener with an ambiguous question. Is the answer so simple and right in front of you like a gentle breeze or so unreachable and touchable as a mighty wind?

The Los Angeles community is like the land of Honalee. Sunny skies, warm temperatures, beautiful scenery, with imaginary adventures in abundance. The blowing Santa Ana wind has not been gentle nor kind. Like Puff, the land of Honalee (L.A.) is not the same without Jackie Paper or the neighborhood homes and buildings.

Watching the daily newscasts, I have been astounded with the resilience of the people who “have lost everything.” Yet, almost everyone interviewed indicated they had only lost their homes and possessions but still had their family, friends, community, and spirit. They want to look beyond the disastrous winds and envision a rebuilt Honalee.

Jimmy Carter gave us the best example of how to answer the rhetorical “blowin’ in the wind” question. President Carter did not solely use a hammer to build homes with Habitat for Humanity. The hammer President Carter used also echoed the message in If I Had a Hammer by Pete Seeger. In his hands, the hammer was used to hammer out justice; it was used to hammer out freedom, and shine a light on the love that can exist between brothers and sisters. It may have looked like he was building Habitat Homes, but in reality, he was building hope and freedom for those in need.

We see the damage caused by Santa Ana winds a ‘blowin.’ We know that there are thousands of people, like Puff, without their “cherry lane” home, school, church, and business. And we also know that the answer can start with a hammer or a pen. Besides the American Red Cross, most faith-based organizations have disaster relief agencies that are supporting relief efforts not only to assist with the physical needs, but also the spiritual, emotional, and social needs. The song doesn’t end with “If I had a hammer. It states, “I’ve got a hammer.”

Now is the time to use your hammer!