Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Just Another Day at Work?

Well, not so much.

But I have a fun story I have to tell. Today the T4G guys were on campus meeting with Dr. Mohler. I was opening the door for my co-oworker who was taking out the trash and John Piper walked by me in a black stocking cap. It sort of dawned on me when I saw he was followed by the rest of the team, apparently walking over from the Legacy Center to Dr. Mohler's office.

So that was that.

10 minutes before we closed, they all came into the bookstore. This is the first time Piper has been in since I started working there, but the other guys have come in lots, so I'm used to their joviality and cheerful friendliness. Hoping Piper would be in the same sort of mood, I went back to my desk and pulled down a shelf flag (which is what you put on the shelf to tell about a book, or to show it's on sale) that I've had up by my desk since July of '07. Every month or so, we get new signs to put out to show the new sales. Every once in a while there is a typo on the price or something, but THIS time, the typo was in the title. It was advertising a sale price on the "new book by John Piper": What Jesus Demands of the Woman.

Clearly this was supposed to mean What Jesus Demands of the World. I thought it was funny, so I put it on my magnet board.

I brought it out and asked Dr. Piper when we might expect that new work to be released. He laughed loudly and said "It's WORLD! That should be WORLD! This has to be a joke."

I said "no, it's a misprint. But I think it would make a great title. Maybe your wife could pen a book with this title."

He smiled and said "can I keep this? I'm going to FRAME it."

So that's why I can't show you the shelf flag. I gave it to John Piper.

12 comments:

Karen said...

Too funny, Gret. What an exciting life you live.

Jason and Andrea said...

Ha Gretchen, you have the most amazing experiences! What great stories you will have to tell your grandchildren someday.

GloryandGrace said...

I'm so glad I got to see you today! I miss seeing your smiling face :)

Anonymous said...

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!That is hilarious! I was the one that found that misprint (or was I? now that I think about it I can't remember)I'm so sad I wasn't there to share in the joy and hilariousness of that moment. His wife can't write that book, that's my title!...now I'm gonna have a lawsuit on my hands lol.
man I miss you guys!

Sizzledowski said...

That's too funny! :)

Sarah said...

Josh says, "Only Gretchen....." :-)
Such a fun story to tell your kids someday, when his books are classics. :-)

Anonymous said...

Great story Gret! Way to rub shoulders with the big wigs!
Annie

Gretchen said...

Heather,

My only sorrow was that you were not there to share the moment with me! I know, you better get writing your magnum opus before he tells Noel to write a book with that title!

Anonymous said...

ok Gretchen this is totally and COMPLETELY off the subject, but do you remember "Kathy Kits"?? Remember I like took 50 home or something, and we never did any? I was thinking about that last night, stinkin hilarious!

Gretchen said...

I remember Mom was kind of mad because you took so many. We were like "but we'll do them all!" I think all we did was pull them out from under the bed and count them every once in a while. Maybe you had ninety?

James and Christen said...

:)
:)
:)
Such an interesting life you lead!!!

after I typed that I realized that is basically what everyone else wrote. sorry, I am SO unoriginal!!!

Hope you are doing well. Thinking of you often and praying for you too.

Jeremiah said...

WOW Gretchen!

You actually got to meet John Piper!! How cool! I love his books, and his "Desiring God" is in my top 5 favorite books of all time!

I am glad to hear he has a good sense of humor and that he enjoyed the little joke!

Shepherd!

p.s. How do you know Sizzledowski?! She is the girlfriend of one of my friends here in Lafayette! Small world, eh!