Traffic Cameras and the Ten Commandments

September 15, 2009 Weatherman Lost His Career by One Degree

Dr. Bob Harris had hit the big time. He was a professional meteorologist in New York City. He worked for the New York Times and WCBS radio. For ten years, he enjoyed the fame and wealth of his public role, but it all crashed in around the weatherman because of an error of one degree.

Oh, it wasn’t a degree in Fahrenheit or Celsius. Instead, it swirled around a claim that he had earned a degree in geophysics from Columbia University. It was a lie. He claimed to have a doctorate, and no one bothered to verify the authenticity of his claim.

As a child, he was fascinated by storm and weather patterns. He parlayed this amateur interest into a lucrative career by virtue of his persona. But a perfect storm was brewing. His dishonesty and an anonymous letter to his superiors at CBS brought the house of cards down like a hurricane blows through a Caribbean grass hut.

Is one degree important? It is if it’s in reference to our integrity. When Solomon was awaiting coronation, the Lord said, “As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever . . . .”

Integrity is so important. Let’s not be off, even by one degree.