One really can make a difference. Hi, I’m Tom Ellsworth from Sherwood Oaks Christian Church with a minute message.
In the election of 1842 Hoosier farmer Henry Shoemaker kept his promise to vote for state representative candidate Madison Marsh even though his was the last vote cast that day. When the votes were counted, Marsh and his opponent were tied. However, there was one contested ballot and it was Shoemaker’s; when his vote was finally admitted the tie was broken and Madison Marsh was declared the winner…by one vote.
At that time, state legislators elected U.S. Senators so when the Indiana general assembly gathered for that responsibility, Edward Hannegan was elected by one vote. You guessed it; it was none other than Madison Marsh who changed his vote on the sixth ballot to give Hannegan the election. Three years later a sharply divided U.S. Senate was deadlocked on conflict with Mexico until Indiana senator Hannegan cast his vote to declare war. And what did the U.S. get out of that war with our southern neighbor? For one thing, California!
God gives us opportunities to impact the lives of others every day – one really can make a difference. Who knows how you may change history.
PS – the next time someone from the west coast calls us a fly over state, just remind them California wouldn’t be a state without Indiana!