Hoo Kang’s Obituary?

When I was teaching a few years ago, I began each group with a difficult task.

I wanted to know what motivated them. The best way I thought was to begin with the end.

In other words, to write their obituaries. If you’re influential, your obituary might be published when you die.

I challenged the students to write their obituary in one weekend.

I’ve had the opportunity to read hundreds of student obituaries. I noticed a pattern of hope and big dreams: become a famous singer, run a successful business, cure cancer, or an influential politician. Most wanted to have some form of family and have children. Naturally, all wanted to get into a prestigious school. That was the clientele I was serving at the time.

It took me several attempts. I finally wrote one, but I seemed to have misplaced it.

I’ve been feeling aimless and I would like to get focused on what REALLY matters to me.

Without further ado… My obituary.

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Hoo (Paul) Kang, of Newport Beach, CA went to heaven, on Thursday, December 31, 2071 in his sleep at home. He was 89. He was born December 30, 1982 in Seoul, South Korea. He attended North Star Elementary School, Thornton Middle School, Thornton High School, and the University of Colorado at Boulder. In 2008, he married Hyeyoung (Kelly) Shin, and together they had two daughters, Jeslyn and Kaylee. Hoo worked as an entrepreneur, mentor, and philanthropist. He dedicated himself to loving those around him and changing lives one device at a time. Hoo served as an elder of local church. A loving soul, Hoo was fun to be around and enjoyed surprising people with love, positivity, and optimism. He will be greatly missed. Hoo is survived by his daughters. A memorial service organized and held at the Orange County Church of Christ. Memorial donations may be made in Hoo’s name to  HOPE worldwide.

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It’s really hard to write something like that. It also feels strange to predict your own death. My wife wants to die together in our sleep, but I don’t get to decide that. She’s a romantic.

Naturally, what’s important to me is my family, that my life provides value to the world, and help build bridges between people and Jesus.

I would still love to be blessed and steward billions of dollars of God’s monetary wealth and be influential, but if I can get into Heaven and bring those I love with me. I would consider that a success.

But the best thing would be…

To hear God say this to me:

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21

The Parable of the Talents / Gold Bags has three different types of people. One person receives five gold bags, another two gold bags, and another one gold bag. The people with five and two bags effectively double their return and bring back ten and four bags. The third person doesn’t do squat with his gold bag and buries in the ground. Naturally, if you were the master you would be disappointed and angry too.

The talents represent blessings and gifts that God has given to people.

God has given me a lot of blessings: a beautiful and spiritual wife, precious daughters, great friends, work, and a brain.  I want to live my life like the guy with five gold bags. But if I fail at least it will be like the guy who received two gold bags.

I don’t want my life to be a waste and be the dude with one gold bag.

My ideal priorities would be:

1. My relationship with Jesus – The Foundation
2. My wife – The second most important person in my life
3. My daughters – My legacy
4. My work – The vehicle that allows me to take care of my family and pay for experiences
5. My friends and extended family – The people I am blessed to know

However, as I reflect on how I have been living life my priorities look like this:

1. My work
2. My daughters
3. My wife
4. My friends and extended family
5. My relationship with Jesus

I need to repent and I have a long ways to go to get to the point I would like to be at.

For the time being I would like to focus on my relationship with Jesus.
I’m planning on doing a deeper study on my purpose on Earth its supposed to be.

I have a strange feeling its going to take a couple of years to figure out exactly what my calling is supposed to be.

Thank you for reading, to His glory, and God bless!

For those of you who have found your calling or purpose in your life how did you figure it out?