Life is so hard to understand at times. We try to figure things out and sort out hidden meanings. What can be harder to figure out is what God tries to tell us. We have so many influences in our everyday walk that can take us in any direction. We have to decide if we are going to be shallow, thorny, or productive.
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. "The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Mark 4:3-8, 10, 14-20 NLT)
I know we can all look back in our time and see moments where we were shallow, thorny, or productive. We may even be one of those right now.
We go to church and hear God's message and it sounds good at the time, but when we leave, we feel that it probably doesn't apply to us, you know, the preacher was speaking to someone else today. It hits that shallow soil and doesn't penetrate us.
Or how about when God calls to us and we hear him, but we get distracted or bogged down in our own desires or circumstances that we can't focus on what He is saying to us? I too often let the thorns of life rob me of His joy.
But then there are those times when we actually open our ears and our hearts to experience His Grace fully. We allow it to prune the weeds and thorns away to reach our souls, enrich our lives, and receive the joy of salvation. We can have a relationship with Christ. 
The best part of all of this is that God continues to throw the seed out. Just because we were rocky or thorny on one occasion doesn't mean we don't get another chance. Use Lent as a time to prepare the fertile soil to receive His message.
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