It was an interesting study in human behavior, being at the Farmer’s Market in the rain on Saturday. Melissa, Matt, and I were huddled underneath the tent with the Farmer’s Market table. We were trying to give people free cider and cookies, and, if they were interested, (seriously, if they just took the cider and cookies, we were completely fine with that!), tell them about the Vine and in particular about our community gardens project.

At first, we tried calling out to people to offer them free cider and cider. No success. Just a few hard stares.

We took down anything that looked vaguely like it could be a catch: cards, sign up sheets, and people started stopping over.

Still, I’d say over half the people couldn’t believe that we were just giving something away. People would inch over, examine our table closely for signs of pamphlets or cash boxes, before cautiously taking the cookies and cider, squinting at us as if to say “so, who are you?” We said to a couple people: “Free cider and cookies”, and they’d smile, come by, break out their wallet, and say, “how much?”

Still, I wonder, why is it so hard for people to believe that anyone, especially a religious organization, could just be giving something away? In the end, I think perhaps that reputation is well earned; too often, presents from churches come with hooks; a pamphlet, a pitch, pressure, an expectation. So rarely do religious people simply bless people, make their lives better, not for any reason except just because.

I hope we get a chance to do more of this in the city; just bless people, just give something away. Because after all, in my book, that’s exactly what God wants us to do.