During the autumn of 2019 my family attended my almost-90-year-old father’s induction into the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s Hall of Fame for his outstanding performance in basketball. What a remarkable achievement for a Chinese American who was the first in his family to attend college, especially in the 1950s before Asians were generally welcome to the U.S. I was very proud of my dad for this honor and of the Academy for their recognition of him, which was a first for an Asian American. 

Weeks later, we began hearing about a novel coronavirus first identified in China. As we now all know, Covid-19 has caused the worst health crisis in a century, marked by death and suffering. During and possibly exacerbated by the pandemic, America was also reminded of ongoing challenges faced by persons of color, notably the events that led to the Black Lives Matter protests. AAPI persons dealt with the xenophobic use of “Wuhan virus” or “Chinese virus” and even violence. Indeed, one of The Gathering’s key themes last year was dialog and prayer about racism against Asians. This was but one example of the collective voices and deeds of AAPI folk to care for each other amid disease and racism brought forth by Covid-19. 

My family and I are blessed to have stayed healthy through the pandemic. I write this as the Omicron variant has subsided and my wife and I travel to watch our eldest son compete at the 2022 NCAA Fencing Championship. There may be nothing more American than college sports. So I’m awed by the symmetry of my dad’s and son’s athletic successes bookending this defining moment in the history of AAPI persons. 

During this Lent, preparing to celebrate the resurrection, I can see God's love and blessings through the beauty and strength of AAPI voices and accomplishments. 

Hal Yee Jr is a husband, dad, son, and physician-scientist-executive who attends St. Francis Episcopal Church in Palos Verdes Estates, CA.