Beyond the Harvest: A Truth That Time Reveals
By Raviteja Kongara | May 2025 | Life Lessons | ⏱️ 4 min read
What does true success mean? Is it measured by wealth, possessions, or something deeper?
We often chase material achievements, believing they define our worth. But what if true wisdom lies in understanding what truly lasts? This story of an old man and a young, ambitious worker offers a timeless lesson.
The Old Man VS The Proud
For a year, an old man sat silently by a vast farm field, watching it change with the seasons. Few noticed him, but a young man named Rohan, who took the same road home every evening, began to wonder why the old man returned daily.
Rohan was a proud man. In their small town, he was the only one who owned a car—a symbol of his success. He often looked down on those who hadn’t “made it” yet, believing that status defined a person’s worth. But one evening, fate had a lesson for him.
The Lesson from the Field
That evening, Rohan’s car had a flat tire right in front of the field. Frustrated, he discovered his spare tire was deflated. While waiting for help, he finally approached the old man.
“I’ve seen you sitting here for so many days, doing nothing. Why?” Rohan asked.
The old man turned slowly. “Because I have little time left. So I notice things that are important… things that pass by.”
Rohan smirked. “I think you wasted too much of your youth chasing the wrong things, and now you’re suddenly focusing on what’s important,” he said sarcastically.
The old man gestured for him to sit and asked, “What do you see?”
“A paddy field.”
“Look closer.”
Rohan squinted. A machine was working through the field, harvesting the plants. The old man continued, “Every day, I watched this field. Out of all the plants, ten always stood out to me.”
“One grew taller than the rest. Two struggled, weak and lifeless. The farmer gave them extra care, trying to help them survive, but in the end, they didn’t make it. The tallest plant, with all its strength, kept growing. But today, look…”
The machine moved steadily, uprooting everything. In the end, the field was empty. The tall plant, the weak ones, and the ordinary ones—all gone.
The Final Truth: What Remains?
Rohan watched in silence. “So… now what? What are you still observing?”
The old man smiled. “The land.”
Rohan turned to him, puzzled.
“The plants come and go. Some grow tall, some wither, some receive extra care. But in the end, they are all harvested. What remains? The land. The same land that will nurture new crops next season. The land is what truly matters, not the plants that briefly grow on it.”
For years, Rohan had believed he was different—above others because of his success. But now, he felt strangely… small.
A Final Twist & A Lesson for All of Us
Just then, another car appeared—a car far more luxurious than Rohan’s. A driver approached the old man, handing him the keys. The old man smiled, stood up, and drove away.
Stunned, Rohan asked a passerby, “Who was he?”
“The richest farmland owner in the town. One of the top elites.”
Every evening after that, Rohan waved at the old man, and when time permitted, he sat beside him—learning from his wisdom, understanding that pride is fleeting, and true success is measured differently.
Conclusion: A Lesson for All of Us
“In life, some grow tall, some struggle, and some receive extra care. But in the end, time harvests us all.”
“Pride is fleeting. Wealth and success vanish. What remains is our character, wisdom, and the impact we leave behind.”
“Instead of measuring worth by possessions, focus on what truly lasts.”
If this story resonated with you, share it with someone who needs this perspective today!
Written by Kongara Raviteja – a storyteller exploring the quiet power of ordinary moments.