Making My Vacation Not About Me by Gini Walker

Growing up, my get-away vacations were car trips on Route 66 from California to Arkansas, my family’s roots state. Mom was a schoolteacher and she definitely needed her family connections and time to unwind. During those years, although I was the last of four children, I shared the back seat with just one brother. My sister shared the front seat, wedged between mom and dad, helping them to drive the many miles. My oldest brother was grown and on his own. Those were the years of calling out “are we there yet?” I vaguely remember the never-ending state of Texas as I slept, woke, and saw the Texas state signs again and again. These vacations never held the question “Gini, what do you want to do?” Where my family went, I went. Then I grew up.

In those early years of marriage, the catchphrase about vacations was “one week to get ready, two weeks to vacation, and finally a week to recover from the past three weeks”. Yet, as hectic as those days were, I needed time away. I, too, was a teacher. After a few travel-by-car-to-see-family summers, we discovered a new concept in vacations called “vacations with a purpose”. These were trips with groups to “help” people groups or ministries. They were exciting, stretching, meaningful, and memorable times. In our late 20s, 30s and a few early 40s years, my husband and I thrived on the serving aspects of these getaways. Then, we arrived in our “later years” of our 60s and now mid-70s. “Serving While On Vacation,” I thought. That time is over. We don’t go anywhere these days. Vacation? Some people would say, “Gini, you are ALWAYS on vacation. You are always at home and not working. You don’t need a vacation”. So, I had to dig deep as I considered serving while on vacation. Does God have a place for me in this concept?

Before I answer that question, I have a question. It is something men and women my age often ask ourselves, “What is my purpose now that my energy is mostly depleted and I’m feeling the need to have others serve and care for me?” My needs seem to outgrow my abilities. We, the older generation, often feel others see us as “taking up space”. This way of seeing us was a challenge I had difficulty overcoming. I had to fight depression. I had to fight to maintain any physical strength that remained. Then, God called me to meet Him in a place that has become a treasure to me. It is my “quiet place”. My husband knows where it is and he graciously honors this space. He knows what is happening here. It is “my Serving While On Vacation” spot. But it isn’t a two-week out-of-the-year place. I’d like to say it is a daily meeting place but I do sometimes miss my appointment (s) there. Although it isn’t in a closet as beautifully described in the movie “War Room” with Priscilla Shirer and Karen Abercrombie, it is a quiet and sacred place for me to serve in my vacation days of “old age”. What happens here?

I have a little bag that holds my prayer requests. In this bag is a little black book. I wrote on the first page: “Abba Father, these are my prayer concerns to YOU through Jesus and the power of your Holy Spirit. The list of concerns grows day by day and it overwhelms me–but not You.” Every time I hear of a need I write it here. The other item in my bag is a stack of 3 x 5 cards I have banded together. Each member of my immediate family has a card–my husband, my grown son, his wife, and my two grandchildren. Their names are at the top with their favorite Bible verse written out so I can read it. Written in little words below this are ALL the areas of their lives for me to pray about. Special in my requests is that he/ she would be a man/woman of God; Abba Father would shield him/her from the evil one and I pray for the armor of God to be on/over them and the fruit of His Spirit in them. It is such a joy and honor to serve my family this way. I can’t protect them, but I can trust them to God’s care. For my two grandchildren who are pre-teens, I pray for God to call them to Himself and for them to be obedient to His call.

Finally, I have a 3 x 5 card with Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 NLT. It says it all: “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” I may never again travel further than the quiet spot in my home, but I’m confident I’m serving others here with my prayers. This vacation never ends.

– Gini Walker

Ephesians 3:14-19

Although her parent and siblings were born in Arkansas, Gini was born and raised in California. She has been married to Charlie for more than 53 years. They live in Orange County, CA. Their son and daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and grandson live nearby.

Gini was active in the education of elementary school-age children. Feeling a misfit in education, she turned to and became active in adult ministry at their church.

Gini and Charlie have a joint ministry—12 years ago, Charlie designed and built a guest house on the back of their property. It is named Onesimus House, a gift from God of respite and renewal to missionaries from around the world. They call themselves God’s caretakers of this delightful place of rest and renewal.

Gini’s hobbies are gardening, reading, and writing. Their 3-year-old dog, Jackson, is such a joy in their lives. Gini and Charlie are members of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Orange County.