WEB NOVEL: SET APART | Sep 28, 2025

JEREMIAH

Finally, I’m back in Miami.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Psalm Airline flight 777 welcomes you to Miami, Florida. The local time is 1 pm. For your safety and the safety of those around you, please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened and keep the aisle clear until we are parked at the gate.”

I’m not sure if it’s just a coincidence, but the song that randomly played from my playlist was “I Met Jesus in Miami” by VOUS Worship. This song is going to be my new favorite; it fills me with hope as I look out the window and watch the busy employees working on the ramp. The music feels like a message straight from God.

As I wait for my turn to exit the aircraft, I can feel the Miami vibe—the warm weather, the vibrant nightlife, and the stunning beaches that this city has to offer. After I collected all my luggage, my phone rang. It was my cousin who lives in Miami.

Genesis and I have many memories to share. He is my closest cousin, and I especially spend time with him during my school vacations when I visit their house here in Miami. He once encouraged me to read the Bible, but I admit that I don’t approach it in the same way he does. Back then, I didn’t have the same connection with God that Genesis had.

“Jeremiah! Bro! Which baggage claim are you at? I’m already here!” I could sense the excitement in Genesis’ voice. As I watched him walk towards the baggage claim, I noticed he was looking around, probably searching for me.

“Genesis!” I yelled as he approached, running fast with his arms open for a hug. 

“I miss you, brother!” Genesis exclaimed joyfully. “Let’s go have lunch at your favorite restaurant. I’m sure you miss it too,” he added.

We enjoyed a great conversation as we walked toward the airport parking lot.

As Genesis and I caught up on the countless stories that had unfolded over the past few months in Miami, my thoughts began to drift back to Seattle. What could my friends be doing right now? It was past 2 pm, which meant we were likely on our break at work. I really miss working at the airport in Seattle—there’s something special about the cool vibes during the fall season. 

As we walked into the parking lot, I noticed hundreds of cars parked around, which reminded me of the employee parking area. I began to think about Abrielle. What might she be up to at this moment? I wondered if she had posted a new encouragement reel. Speaking of encouragement, I wanted to ask Genesis if he still attends the same church we go to when I visit him in Miami.

“Hey, bro, there’s a youth revival happening at our church tonight, located at North Shore Park Beach. If you’re not too tired and feel like joining us, you’re welcome to come along,” Genesis invited me. Cool! He may have sensed my thoughts; they were so loud he could hear them. I miss the beach here in Miami; it offers a laid-back, relaxing experience. I’m sure many young people will attend the revival tonight.

Genesis doesn’t know about my interest in having a relationship with God. I’m hesitant about sharing my heart with him, but he will be happy to know about it. My mind is filled with so many thoughts that I haven’t addressed, and I need to stop overthinking.

As we prepared to leave the airport parking lot, we went for a delicious lunch. It felt so comforting—like being home. I was almost back in Seaside, but not quite there yet. After our satisfying meal, we headed to Genesis’s new place. To my surprise, he took me to a different address. “Genesis, wait, is this your aunt and uncle’s house? Why is it a different address?” I asked curiously. 

Genesis explained that he had already moved out of his parents’ house since starting his job. He wanted to live on his own to experience adult life and take responsibility for paying his monthly bills. “There’s a new church I’ve been attending near my apartment and work. My place is a bit far from my parents’ house, so I decided to find a church nearby. I still visit the church I grew up in whenever I go to see my parents,” he added. 

Genesis then let me relax in one of his guest rooms for a while, so I took a nap and prepared for tonight’s youth service.

It was past 6 pm when Genesis and I were ready to go. As we arrived in the parking lot, I noticed a couple of young adults chatting beside their car. We left our car and walked toward them, but a sudden wave of nervousness washed over me. My hand felt cold. I knew this was typical for me; as an introvert, being around new people often made me anxious. I thought about how nice it would have been to stay home, sleep, and read my book.

“Hey guys, this is my cousin Jeremiah,” Genesis introduced me to his churchmates. They greeted me warmly, and we all walked together toward the heart of North Shore Park Beach. I was amazed by the beauty of the beach. Tall palm trees lined the seashore, adorned with lights reminiscent of Christmas decorations. It was captivating—not too crowded, just slightly chilly, and some people were making bonfires in the distance, the perfect setting for making s’mores. I felt a rush of happiness when I saw that Genesis’s churchmates had also built a bonfire. They were all smiling and welcoming as we approached them.

I was introduced again, and their youth pastor asked us to sit in a circle around the bonfire they had prepared. There were twelve people in the circle, including me. “Perfect,” I thought briefly. If sharing were to take place and I was asked to participate, I believed I could share a bit and wouldn’t feel too shy since there weren’t many people. We had s’mores, snacks, and drinks to satisfy our hunger. I wondered if they had coffee. It was chilly outside, and I hadn’t gotten enough sleep.

The revival began with prayer and worship songs. To my surprise, they sang the same music I had been listening to earlier on the plane: “I Met Jesus in Miami.” It felt like the perfect night to hear the youth share their testimonies about how Jesus has changed their lives. The youth pastor began speaking, sharing from 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

“I want to thank everyone who attended tonight. Each of us has a past that has been transformed by Jesus, which proves that He has the power to change lives. From that point on, we’ve all fallen in love with God.”

The youth pastor continued to speak about God’s goodness and provided us with some activities to enjoy while we introduced ourselves to the other youth. This portion lasted for two hours. Afterward, we had time to walk around the seashore. The wind blew gently in the dim light of night, and the sound of the waves relaxed my mind. The splash of water on the shore will always serve as my medicine for any ache or longing in my heart.

I had the opportunity to speak with Adam, who has been part of the youth group for the past year and a half. He shared his story of how he came to know Jesus; his Mom struggled with alcoholism. Every night when he came home, she was always drunk. Adam was raised by her alone until her drinking became uncontrollable.

She stopped working and began to rely on Adam’s paycheck to buy cigarettes and drinks. Whenever her Mom drank alcohol, she would get angry and throw away anything she saw. Adam confided in me about how exhausted he was and how much he hated the unfairness of his life. While his friends were enjoying their college years, he was working two jobs to meet their needs. 

One night, he could no longer hold back his emotions. He went to the seashore, cried, and yelled to God. He spoke to God, saying, “If you are real, let my mom be transformed.” He asked God for a sign: he wanted a person in white who was sharing the gospel to appear the next day at precisely 12 pm. Adam posed these seemingly impossible questions, seeking to understand how real Jesus was. Deep down, he knew it was unlikely to meet someone sharing God’s word at that specific time and in that specific way. He left the seashore with a heart full of doubt.

The next day, he left the house and went to work as usual. His Mom was snoring and drunk, sleeping on the couch. As he waited at the bus stop at 11:56 am, he stood beside another passenger who was watching a reel on the Fruit app. Adam stared straight ahead, lost in thought. 

To his surprise, he heard a man’s voice that seemed to be coming from the passenger’s cellphone next to him. The man speaking said, “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Adam glanced sideways to check who was speaking on the cellphone. To his shock, he saw a man wearing a white t-shirt with the word “Freedom” printed on it. 

Immediately, he checked the time, and it was exactly 12 pm Tears suddenly streamed down his face as he fell to his knees. The passenger beside him was startled by his sudden movement. Overwhelmed, Adam ran back home to his Mom and hugged her tightly.

Since then, her Mom’s life has never returned to the way it used to be. They began attending a church service at a nearby church, where she met my cousin, Genesis. From that moment on, her Mom’s life transformed in the best possible way. Currently, she serves on the worship team at the local church. Jesus revived her voice, free from the stains of alcohol and cigarettes, all by the power of His blood. Her Mom cares for her body as if it were God’s temple. 

As it says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” A tear fell from Adam’s eyes as he stood on the seashore where he met Jesus. He could never forget how God transformed both his life and her Mom’s. God indeed communicates in many ways, and nothing is too hard for Him. With God, everything is possible. 

Adam’s story deeply touches my heart. Jesus has restored every broken piece of Adam’s heart. This is true revival. The questions in my heart that I had when I left Seattle were answered tonight.

God is a miracle in Himself. Now, I understand why I have to return to Miami—to meet Jesus in the same place where Adam encountered Him. The cold waves brush against my feet, and the seafoam caresses my skin, while the echoes of the wind embrace me as if God is hugging me. In truth, He truly is. His presence surrounds me in this moment. 

“Jesus, when I arrived in Miami, I came feeling empty. But overnight, You revealed Yourself to me and filled my cup to overflowing, just like the waves and seafoam around me. The song You made me listen to spoke to my heart.” 

As I bow in reverence to the Lord, I find myself singing the song I heard on the aircraft: “I met Jesus in Miami, and He changed me overnight. You can tell me that I’m crazy, but this love I can’t deny.”