Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen!…Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” ~Mark 4:1-9 (NIV)
Jesus emphatically invites the people in the crowd to become listeners. He knew that how he was listened to was just as important as the words of the parable he shared with them. Listeners are responsible for 50 if not 51% any communication. To fully grasp the deeper meanings of Jesus’s teachings and parables is to take full responsibility for being a listener who has ears to hear.
Listening looks easy but it’s not simple. Every head is a world.
~Cuban Proverb
How is God inviting you to be a listener?
What is the most challenging part of listening for you?
Come Learn Rest Ministries 
Mark Nepo has a wonderful new book called Seven Thousand Ways to Listen. My companions group just finished using it for our study. It was so good. Mom
I wonder how all those people could hear Jesus when he was in the boat? In any case, yes it can be difficult listening sometimes.