From the day of my salvation experience onward I searched the Scriptures for G-d's will for me. I began with the Psalms, as they were the most understandable to me at the time. Because the Psalmist praised and upheld the Law with every breath, I concluded that that would be the most righteous thing for a person to do: keep the Law of Moses. 

Thereupon my struggles began.

I was far from any Jewish community which could help me live by these laws. To keep Kashrut (dietary laws) proved impossible in my surroundings. Guilt and condemnation assaulted me. I found myself unable to do right according to the Law of Moses.

In the midst of my struggle for righteousness with laws I couldn't keep, Abraham appeared. He came in a vision to lead me in the path of faith. But I did not perceive the connection between my struggles and his appearance. Therefore Abraham appeared a second time, and a third, and brought me a "prophetic forecast" of my own walk of FAITH.

The road I walked on unexpectedly ended at the foot of a towering mountain. A frightful mystery of an eggshaped dome arose out of nowhere, blocking my path. Baffled, I searched for a way around the mountain. But wherever I looked, the mountainous obstruction blocked any further advancement.

The whole world had become a mountain¹!

Exasperated, I viewed this giant dome: there were neither shrubs nor trees, path nor track. It was as smooth as an egg. No twittering of birds could be heard, nor gentle breeze felt. A mysterious  life- lessness enfolded this mountain.

Suddenly a tall, middle-aged man stood to my left. Where had he come from? He met my eyes with an inviting, disarming smile. Dark brown eyes shone warmly under bushy, dark eyebrows mingled with lighter strands. 

"I am Abraham." His voice rang deep and sonorous. "Don’t be afraid."

He pointed to the eggshaped dome.

"Come! I will show you how to climb this mountain. It is not difficult."

He took my hand and lead me to the foot of the giant dome. I followed, dumfounded.

"Now watch," he said. "I will place first one foot, then the other, into the mount, thereby making footprints. As I make the footprints, place your foot into them and thus follow me." 

"I will go before you and make the way. All you must do, is place your feet into my footprints after me."

"Do you understand?" he asked, comforting me.

I nodded. What was to become of this? Why was Abraham here with me in this trackless wilderness of a mountain? How did he and I, get here?

But he had already begun to place his feet upon the mount.

I stared incredulously!

A clear-cut footprint formed in the smooth surface! Then another one... and another one! 

I looked up, hope flooding my heart.

Abraham nodded encouragingly. Gently he pulled my hand. There --- carefully I placed my foot into the first footprint, and into the second, and the third.

I didn't slip! 

It worked - as solid as a staircase of rock!

Abraham placed his foot down, and afterwards I placed mine. Right... left, right... left. Up we climbed, slowly... slowly. 

Abraham never released my hand, nor did he rush ahead. Patiently he waited for me to place my feet into his carved-out footprints.

I dared not look back. It might be too frightening!

The top of the dome came nearer and nearer. Hope and joy began to fill me. This inanimate obstacle of a mountain--- we had almost conquered it.

Step by step, Abraham carved a path where there had been none.

"What kind of magic feet does he have?" I wondered. "Why do his footprints form steps in the rock as if by chisel and hammer?"

With an amused twinkle in his eyes - probably at the expression of my face - he pointed to the footprints.

"Watch where you step!" he warned.

"Don't take your eyes off the footprints yet,"²  he said, "even though we're getting close to the top. There are a few more steps to go."

He was right. Before us stretched the final part of the dome --- trackless, pathless, unconquered.

Right... left, right... left, step be step..., step by step we moved upward. My eyes were fixed on the footprints until, finally, I placed my foot into the last one³. 

We had reached the top!