In a society where raging narcissism dominates the moral landscape, the virtue of humility is often dismissed as irrelevant. Not only is humility vanishing from contemporary culture, but we are also witnessing how destructive a lack of humility has become among our churches and ministry leaders. And yet, Richard Foster, the founder of Renovaré, insists that humility is central to the journey toward character formation and spiritual transformation. For this reason he decided to spend a year studying the virtue of humility.
Using the Lakota calendar as a framework, Foster provides us with a look into the insights he gathered from sources ranging from Native American culture to Julian of Norwich to Scripture to personal friends. By engaging with both the spiritual classics and Foster's own experiences, Learning Humility provides profound insight into what humility can look like in our current cultural climate.
Join Richard Foster on the journey toward a life of humility, which he says leads us into "freedom, joy, and holy hilarity."
"Destined to be another classic from Richard J. Foster, Learning Humility is a gift from a gifted writer. In this book we get to walk with Richard not only on the trails of Colorado but also on the terrain of the soul. Richard is a true scribe of the kingdom who brings forth treasures old and new (Matthew 13:52). The breadth and depth of the wisdom bearers he quotes is immense, from Peter and Paul, to Evagrius and Julian, to Chief Joseph and Underhill, to Kelly and Law, and to Murray and contemporary writers. Framed by the thirteen months and moons of the Lakota and filled with liturgies and litanies, this book ignited in me a hunger for humility in my own life. This is one of Richard's signature gifts: he makes us long for difficult things by helping us see that virtues, like humility, are the pearl of great price, worth giving all we have to obtain it. This book is an engaging and insightful gem, and I am the better for having read it."
James Bryan Smith, author of The Good and Beautiful God
"Humility is an essential and highly nuanced topic for us Christians; there are such fine lines to be found-between humility and humiliation, self-regard and self-promotion, healthy self-esteem and the sin of pride. Foster finds the line and walksit beautifully. The idea that we do not try to attain humility directly but we 'come at the matter indirectly. We simply take up those things that, in God's time and in God's way, will lead us into the virtue of humility' is tremendously hopeful. It is worth the price of the book."
Ruth Haley Barton, founder of the Transforming Center and author of Sacred Rhythms
"In the way that the world was given the four agreements through Don Miguel Ruiz's Toltec lens, Richard Foster offers a vibrant and refreshing new view using the lens of the native North American Lakota people. We need a diverse lens. I celebrate the discipline Richard undertook of his year-long experiment with Learning Humility. I am grateful for the welcoming language that gives a new way of seeing and humbly being open to living our most expansive with-God lives. Richard's is a fresh word for our times and a deeply soul-satisfying reminder of this virtue so desperately needed."
Juanita Campbell Rasmus, spiritual director and author of Learning to Be
