Need Advice

Hi, I'm hoping you can help me. I'm a Christian pastor, and there is a woman in my congregation who is my age, and single. I'm interested in her, and want to ask her out on a date. A couple of problems: 1. She's always busy with work, and 2., As a pastor, asking a member of my congregation out would be perceived as awkward and crossing a boundary. We connected nicely, but I'm wondering how I approach this without making a fool of myself.

Just make sure to explain that there will be no hard feelings if she does not want to go on a date.

AKA is right. On the other hand, someone 'always busy with work' may for some reason or other not be interested in dating, or may not be interested in dating YOU. It's hard to tell. I dated after the death of my husband. I wish more men had possessed the courage to say "I don't think we have a whole lot in common" / "I've got some work to do on myself before I date." "Hit me up next week, I'm busy right now," I eventually decided to interpret as "No thanks." I walked away with the intention to move on. The ball would figuratively be in his court to contact me. At one point, *I* really was too busy to meet someone in person for a date - I work retail and it was a couple weeks before Christmas, and I had plans to go to Florida soon after. Fortunately we both stayed in touch, eventually met in person, and our relationship has lasted nine years so far.

Hi ViB, This is the wee picture show that popped into my bonce (don't blame me - I didn't order it in) as I read your post: Hung-over, over-hungry batchelor drags himself to his fridge and cupboard, sees there's nothing to make an actual, healthy and satisfying meal out of, and, because he doesn't feel fit enough to leave his flat and go to the shops (plus has lately begun feeling a bit agoraphobic), starts settling for gobful's of last year's squeezy cheese, mayonnaise, butter, one bendy carrot, a suspicious-looking chicken wing... and a seriously outdated tin of butter beans. In what way do you feel "hung-over"? And how come it's so strong as to win the battle against both your abject hunger and you knowing perfectly well you should be being self-disciplined and making the effort to go to the shops? Especially as you know you'll feel much better for doing so? Really, if you want prime steak, rather than an all-too potential case of Salmonella, all over even the OUTSIDE of your house, you're going to have to go out and about. Did any of that go Ping? If not, put it this way: Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread (ducks rotten tomatoes)