“Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out.”
It is man’s accenting mark among other creatures to measure our time. And Albom doesn’t actually know at sure, whether it is a lucky destination for us (to make plans, to put everything in some order) or, in verse, a fate: while other creations just live, we measure every minute of our life, thus noticing that our life flows between our fingers, leaving less and less opportunities, chances for us to fulfill, cases to success in. it is ever discussed issue, and it is up to everyone individually to decide what is more important. The author does not put one side of the medal against the other, but just shows their inseparable existence.
“There is a reason God limits our days.” “Why?” “To make each one precious.”
The author asks about this “reason” at the very beginning of the story, but doesn’t give the answer at once. He lets the reader realize this answer and make the conclusion by himself. If one knew the life length, it would be impossible to feel the taste of life. The author wants to say that we ought to try to live each day as the last one, as the best one, as the happiest one. Uncertainty makes the life more precious.
“First, thanks to God. I do nothing without His grace.”
Albom’s appeal to God is notable throughout the entire plot of the story. We always feel some supernatural power, which rules everything and everywhere. Even Father Time seems to obey It: he is to help people to appreciate their lives, to show them their real values. It’s his task. But who had given it? Probably, God, but not that God, Whom we consider to know, but “a religious God”. It’s just God, general and single for everybody.
