The name for this site comes from Isaiah 40:3-5:

A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

The title draws on the idea that the ground in our world is constantly shifting underneath our feet. We are called to work with God in the transformation of this world, as John the Baptist and the disciples worked with Jesus. This doesn’t mean we are transforming the world, that is God’s task, and God is doing it with or without us. Our choice is to listen to God and help prepare the way for God, or to do our own thing. The work isn’t always easy, but it’s the work we were created to do.

The theme of uneven ground also draws on the idea that we don’t know everything, especially when it comes to God. That doesn’t mean we don’t know anything, but it’s a reminder to tread carefully on our journey through life. When we get too confident, that’s when we lose focus, slip on a rock and slide down the side of the mountain. Humility and focus are two characteristics we need on our faith journeys if we want to keep our footing.

Finally, uneven ground points to my love of the outdoors. I am most connected to God and to creation when I am in the mountains. There is a reason we refer to spiritual highs and “mountaintop experiences.” There are few things as amazing as standing on the summit of a mountain, surveying the peaks and valleys around it. These are my most reliable “thin places”—and not just because of the lack of oxygen. The boundary between heaven and earth seems to be almost nonexistent. The Holy Spirit seems to be easier feel. Hopefully this site can produce some of the same feelings.