“I want to be part of your life,” said Jesus.

Sitting before a bowl of steaming noodle soup, Jesus ordered a glass of iced lemon coke. Watching Him through the rising steam, I began to share my heart — how deeply I desire to lead others to Him, yet lately I’ve been questioning whether this desire is even genuine. The fruits seem slow to come, and people are leaving the community.

Jesus listened quietly as I spoke — patient, attentive, and gentle — while He enjoyed His bowl of noodles. When I had finished, He looked at me and said gracefully,

“People have not been taught or guided to be friends with Me. No one has even asked Me what I like to eat or drink. They give Me what they think I want — all the programs and activities. These are good, and I am indeed present in them. But few ever come to ask what I think about these things. I do not need them; what I desire is friendship.”

Through spiritual direction, I’ve learned to converse with Jesus as a real Person — not as a distant figure, nor as a means to get things done, and certainly not as a taskmaster driving me to exhaustion. He is a True Friend — deeply interested in my life, desiring to share in every part of it.