Richard Foster – watercress words by Dr Aletha

updated January 24, 2024

Learning Humility

A Year of Searching for a Vanishing Virtue

By Richard J. Foster

If anyone can make a book about humility interesting, Richard Foster does. You may already know his work on spiritual disciplines, prayer, spiritual formation, and classical Christian writings, so you will find his latest offering similar but with an unexpected twist. Anyone can appreciate his lack of self-promotion a refreshing change from other “influencers”.

You could argue that devoting an entire book to humility is a step down from his previous spiritual works- even humbling you might say. But the topic and title are timely and telling, as we now see little humility in the public arena, both in secular and religious thought and behavior.

Why humility?

Foster’s essay-style book examins humility, why we should be humble, and how to be humble, without telling us to be humble. Rather, humility cannot be forced or acquired, it requires a transformation of our heart and mind.

Foster decided to explore the topic of humility as he considered New Year’s resolutions, which he doesn’t typically do. He considered journaling about it, but he doesn’t do that either.

Instead, he decided to study what the Bible and classical and modern Christian writers teach about humility and ponder its meaning as he went about his daily life at the rural Colorado home he shares with his wife.

Celebrating Lakota virtues

There is a photo of him on the jacket of my copy of his book Celebration of Discipline. He is wearing a suit and tie, with short, neatly trimmed hair.

So, I was surprised when I had a chance to hear him speak in person; he had long hair, pulled back into a ponytail. He explained it was in deference to his Native American ancestry. Foster’s grandmother was Native American, of the Ojibwa (Chippewa) tribe.

He decided to follow the calendar year, recording observations and musings for each month. However, because it is “rooted in the natural world” he chose to use a Native American calendar, specifically the Lakota Moon calendar.

He named each chapter for one of the thirteen Lakota moons (13 months of 28 days). He also incorporates the twelve Lakota virtues- humility, perseverance, respect, honor, love, sacrifice, truth, compassion, bravery, fortitude, generosity, and wisdom giving thought to how each complements humility.

Dr. Charles Eastman

I found an unexpected medical connection in this book on humility. Keeping with his Native American theme, Foster introduced us to Charles Eastman, M.D., the first Native American to graduate from medical school in the United States

Dr. Eastman, who started life as Ohiyesa, born in 1858, belonged to the Santee Lakota tribe. Dr. Eastman was raised in the traditional Dakota way by his maternal grandparents, believing his father was dead.

But as a teenager, his father found him and took him home to live as a white man. He attended white schools, eventually graduating from Dartmouth College and Boston University Medical School.

Dr. Eastman worked at the Pine Ridge Reservation Indian clinic and soon found himself caring for survivors of the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890. He later worked at the Crow Creek Reservation, ran his own private practice, served as an adviser to the Boy Scouts, founded children’s summer camps, and served in national government positions.

He was most successful at writing and speaking. He published thirteen books, including The Soul of the Indian in which he reconciled the Christian faith he had adopted with traditional Lakota spirituality. Foster comments on this position in his book.

Richard J. Foster

Richard J. Foster (DThP, Fuller Theological Seminary) founded Renovaré.

He has written several other books, including Streams of Living Water, Prayer, Freedom of Simplicity, Sanctuary of the Soul, and Celebration of Discipline, which sold over two million copies worldwide. He and his wife, Carolynn, make their home near Denver, Colorado.

Those who have read Foster’s other books, especially Celebration of Discipline, will find Learning Humility more intimate and introspective, yet still firmly grounded in scripture. If this is a first for you, consider reading the others for practical guidance on the spiritual practices of prayer, meditation, service, and study. I include affiliate links to them here.

Thank you NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Learning Humility is available on

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Matthew 6:9-13, NIV

(Jesus said)

“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

give us this day our daily bread — social graphic from Lightstock.com, an affiliate link

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”

The Lord’s Prayer

This passage from Matthew may be the most quoted from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Although traditionally called the “Lord’s Prayer”, it might also be called the disciples’ prayer.

In the book of Luke, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

Christians pray these words exactly as written (although there are now many different Bible translations and paraphrases), or may use them as a model or outline for prayer. They are prayed during church services and in private devotions.

man praying on holy bible in the morning

The Lord’s Prayer has been set to music in various forms. A family friend sung it at my wedding. Some choose it for funerals or memorial services.

Singers ranging from amateur to professional have recorded The Lord’s Prayer in multiple languages. I enjoyed this Kenyan choir singing it in English.

Umoja English choir, Nairobi, Kenya

In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster writes,

“Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread. Have you ever noticed that children ask for lunch in utter confidence that it will be provided. Children do not find it difficult or complicated to talk to their parents, nor do they feel embarrassed to bring the simplest need to their attention. Neither should we hesitate to bring the simplest requests confidently to the Father.”