It sounds as if you might have some anxiety issues that could be helped by a professional counselor. On a practical note, you might think about the “what-if’s” in a realistic manner. What if you went to the store and got in a car crash? If you weren’t injured, you’d have to call someone to come and get you, or walk home or take the bus, and your car would have to go to the body shop. If you were injured, you might have to go to the hospital for awhile. Inconvenient and painful, yes, but not the end of the world by any means. I speak from experience because I have been the victim of three crashes in the last five years, all the other guys’ fault. No major injuries, thankfully, but one of my shoulders still isn’t right. Oh well, that’s life, and something else to offer up. I’m still out there driving around, although I am a bit more cautious out in the area where my car was totalled. As far as this business about the world going to end, people have been saying that for centuries. My grandfather told my parents not to bother building their house because Christ was going to come back any minute now. That was 50 years ago, and they stayed in that house until they were so old they couldn’t manage it anymore. If the Lord does return, great! – better days are ahead for people of faith. And if He doesn’t, we will go on with our lives for awhile. Since we don’t know the day of His coming, we might as well carry on with our plans and our daily routines. What if you are away and you die? If it is time for the Lord to call you from this life, it doesn’t matter if you are away from home or sitting in your own living room. Don’t let the devil paralyze you with fear. Trust that whatever happens, God loves you and is with you through it all. Pray to your Guardian Angel, too! One of our priests gave an excellent homily once about where Jesus was walking on the water and Peter got out of the boat and started walking toward him. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he stayed afloat, but as soon as he began to fear, he started to sink. I think of that often, and remember to keep my eyes on Jesus when things get scary or weird or iffy or whatever. Maybe this can help you, too. God bless!
