MY TIME IS LIMITEd

// Below is the transcript of Kyuhyun’s testimony shared on June 22nd, 2025 //

“Hello, everyone. I am Kyuhyun, and since it's been almost a year since my surgery, I wanted to share my journey.

Here are the highlights from my background that the world considers significant. In high school, I took and passed 18 AP exams and was a member of my school's math team. I graduated from the University of Michigan in just two and a half years with a degree in Computer Science and then began my career at Amazon.

Money vs God

I've always viewed Christianity as a struggle against materialism. However, during my time in college, my father faced a serious health issue. Fortunately, he resolved it quickly and at no cost, but the financial worries it caused consumed me. I found myself desiring wealth and prosperity for everyone close to me, hoping to avoid any future financial anxieties. Ironically, no matter how much I earned or how much praise I received, my gratitude waned, and I yearned for more. In doing so, I lost sight of my true purpose in life and began prioritizing material values instead.

Layoffs

When Amazon announced the layoff of 18,000 employees, I found out that I was one of them. The job market was challenging, and securing interviews proved difficult. After several months of unsuccessful job searching, I decided to focus on part-time work while developing side projects.

During my first week on the job, I felt depressed because I doubted my place in the organization. However, as I adjusted to the work environment and got to know my teammates, my perspective began to change. Although I initially disliked tasks like cleaning the messy floors and tables and taking out the trash in front of others, I gradually started to take pride in my progress. It became clear to me that happiness does not rely on material possessions.

Seizure and Surgery

The day I had a seizure at Chipotle, I remember waking up in the Back Of the House with emergency medical technicians surrounding me. Still confused about what happened, I messaged my mother while the technicians transported me to Swedish Hospital by ambulance. At the hospital, I experienced a second seizure with my mother beside me. And the doctors discovered that I had a 12mm brain tumor.

Thanks to Elder Hahn, I was able to schedule my surgery at the University of Washington a few weeks later. During the procedure, the doctors woke me up to conduct language tests, ensuring they wouldn't damage the areas of my brain responsible for language.

Recovery

For a couple of months, I focused on resting and recovering. As my goals shifted entirely, I realized that the financial burden I had placed on myself was unnecessary. I didn't need to put that kind of pressure on myself. Instead, I began to notice the things for which I was grateful. For example, the insurance I signed up for at Swedish Hospital covered ambulance services, surgery, and treatments. Every Wednesday, I saw church members praying for me. Additionally, my high school friends flew to Washington from various states to spend the weekend with me.

Meritocracy vs. Christianity

I want to compare two value systems: meritocracy, which the world views as the fairest, and Christianity.

In a meritocratic society, individuals focus on achieving their own goals. These result-driven mindsets create a competitive and individualistic environment that ultimately fails to bring happiness. For example, even the most successful individuals can feel anxious about the progress of their competitors.

In contrast, the Christian value system teaches that we are all indebted to others. We owe our families, friends, and society for our food, comfort, and shelter. Most importantly, we owe our eternal life to Jesus Christ. By recognizing that we cannot achieve anything solely through our efforts, we cultivate a sense of gratitude and hope for what God will provide.

CLOSING

Although I had previously regarded everything I had as something I earned, I have come to appreciate the incredible opportunities I have received. Instead of keeping resources to myself to succeed, I want to share my knowledge and assets with others, even those I may not know personally. Recognizing that my time is limited, I aim to avoid idols and focus on my true purpose through software projects.