Jonathan Carver

“Jonathan Carver, a former shoemaker from Massachusetts who claims to be a mapmaker, spends a winter in Minnesota as part of a western expedition. His mostly plagiarized account of his travels becomes a best seller in Europe. The book, “Travels through the Interior Parts of North America in the Years 1766, 1767, & 1768″, will be read in five different languages.” *

What a thoroughly human story: a man attaining significance mostly by borrowing the work of others! Father, I acknowledge the selfish ambitions of my heart! I too often strive for recognition, and forget that the King of the Universe has already accepted me; warts and all!!!

Lord I want to remember to You the hurts of those who Carver plagiarized. Will you free us from any bitterness resulting from his betrayal or their betraying in return through unforgiveness? Thank you for the good resulting from these stories. Thank you that You listen to our stories in spite of our glaring hypocrisies!

*Note – PrayThroughHistory uses the timeline located for several years at the Minnesota Historical Society Web site, at this URL: mnhs.org/about/dipity_timeline.htm .  The current URL is www.dipity.com/Minnesota/History/Minnesota-History/ and only works if typed, not pasted, in browser. It is worth the effort!