Five times in Jeremiah's book this phrase is used "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD". This is the only time the word was a direction to go somewhere else in order to get another message. On the other occasions we are not told when or where God spoke to the message to the prophet. So this is an interesting passage of scripture.

Jeremiah did the right thing, God said go to the potter's house and he went. When he got there he did the only thing a person could do at the potter's house. He watched the potter work. This part was just sanctified common sense. God says go and I will speak to you there... The prophet had to go and ... LISTEN. Jeremiah says, 

Jeremiah saw the working of the potter and he got the message.

The potter's house was a filthy place, dust and the noise of the wheels spinning, the sounds of labor filled the air. This was no fun to watch. But through the distraction Jeremiah got the message, by watching the potter work. 

but the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 

This is mere observation, paying attention to the place where God put him. Jeremiah saw and he heard.

There are times when observing what is going on around you is the moral equivalent of spending time waiting on God. Oh Lord, open our eyes but to see heavenly things through the muddy realities of life on Earth. Help us to see that we may hear.