Busy?

I often cringe when people begin their request with me by saying, "Father, I know you're really busy..."

It is a reality that priests can be busy and are busy, but the fact that people are hesitant to ask for something because of the busyness is disconcerting.

No child should come to their father and feel like they need to begin with, "Dad, I know you're really busy... but can you come to my game/recital tomorrow?"

Of course like many dads/father's today sometimes we can brush off people by saying, "I can't right now, I'm busy..." And soon we are too busy for our children.

We live in a modern society that either sees busyness as a sign of progress or a necessary reality that has been forced upon us by some unknown force. But what if it's a choice?