[This is, at least, what I believe.]
There are three factors that together affect the course of one's life; namely fate, effort, and time.
The example is given of a farmer planting crops. There are three main factors: planting, rain, and time. Planting represents effort, and rain represents fate. If the farmer plants and there is no rain, there will be no crop, and if the farmer doesn't plant and there is rain, still there will be no crop. Time is also required for the seeds of fate and effort to fruictify.