99-year-old shows the way toward peace

I suspect that 99-year-old Bill Hammacker’s “TM” (troublemaker) degree is of his own mischievous doing, but it is an appropriate pedigree for a peace activist.

I met Bill a few summers ago when he was only 95 years old. He was with his daughter and son-in-law, who have a summer home east of Sandpoint. Carol and Roger are from Sacramento, Calif. Bill lives in Camarillo, Calif., with another daughter, Sue.

Today is Christmas Day, a day when our best impulses move us to consider peace at a level we normally don’t attain the rest of the year. So it seems appropriate to introduce you to peace activist Bill Hammacker – a Light in the Maze to those who pursue their lifelong passion for as long as they live.

Carol believes her dad’s unswerving pursuit of peace began in the late 1920’s when he was getting a degree in agricultural economics at Penn State. He later earned a Masters in religious education at Union Theological Seminary. More than 70 years ago, he was inspired to join the Fellowship of Reconciliation.

FOR has both informed and nourished Bill’s life ever since. Its commitment to a world of “justice, peace, and freedom” for all humankind is Bill’s commitment. His goal is to recruit 100 new members into FOR before he is 100.

He has been a longtime member of the Democratic Club of Camarillo. At every monthly meeting, he speaks passionately about peace for “two minutes, sometimes more, sometimes less.”

I’m sure he also regularly reminds club members – and anyone else who is willing to talk about peace – about a helpful little book he buys by the carton so he can get its message out. This book is simply titled “Peace: Quotations & Aspirations” (Tammy Ruggles, editor, Clear Light Publishing).

The book contains famous and not-so-famous peace-related quotes from men and women both ancient and contemporary, and from more than 20 sacred texts and traditions. A few good reminders for me:

“Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace” (The Buddha).

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal” (Martin Luther King, Jr.).

“And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah, Old Testament prophet).

“Blessed are the peacemakers” (Jesus Christ).

My wife and I received this little book as a gift from Bill’s daughter as a gift to honor Bill on his 99th birthday. She and her husband gave a number of these books as gifts, then sent a check to Bill for the books’ cost. Passing along these books was their birthday gift to him.

Up to this Christmas, Carol has sold 100 of these books as her way of expanding her father’s peace ministry. Bill’s unrelenting devotion to peace has certainly inspired his family and countless others who know him or have simply briefly met him (like me).

Shortly after his 99th birthday party last June, Bill reserved the place where he and his family and friends will gather next June to celebrate his 100 years. I wonder how many “Peace” books will be on hand for him to pass along, and how many new Fellowship of Reconciliation members he will recruit.

Honor peace today. And remember Bill.

•I’m very sad to say that because of budget cuts at The Spokesman-Review, today’s column is the last of the Elder Maze columns – at least in this newspaper. You have been so generous in your gratitude for this column. I will look diligently for other ways to speak for and to elders. If you have ideas as to how that might happen, I welcome your suggestions. This geezer-in-waiting thanks you so much!