Couldn't get into this one. I found the use of Native American calendar as a framework confusing and distracting. Did not finish.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. In a personal journal style, Foster walks us through the Lakota virtues following the Lakota calendar. The stories, though sometimes stream of consciousness, are sobering and thought provoking. Foster combines the broad Christian contemplative tradition on humility with stories from native and indigenous people. The U.S. treatment of the Lakota stirs one to sadness and anger. Foster’s work prompts one to act justly and long for humility. Those who have read Foster’s other books, especially Celebration of Discipline, will find this one more personal, self-revealing, and introspective, yet still firmly grounded in scripture. If this is a first for you, I think you will want to read others by him that instruct and inspire us in the spiritual practices of prayer, meditation, service, and study. The title alone suggests Foster openly professes a degree of ignorance about the virtue of humility as he seeks to learn more about it over the course of a year, and put it into practice. His insightful, candid account is enhanced by descriptions of the Lakota Indians’ calendrical observances, with the addition of helpful anecdotes and illuminating quotes.

Because the book is based on intermittent journal jottings, each entry is relatively short and can be a bit choppy to read. Though it might be off putting for some, I think it works well here because such a method reflects the fits and starts of life itself as it unfolds, and the learning process Foster is engaging with as well.

Foster willingly admits his attempts to learn about humility and its practical application might be flawed yet he discovers numerous ways in which they are beneficial to his soul. The key takeaway from this brave attempt to walk in deeper humility is that it’s enhanced by the journey itself and what it reveals about ourselves, our lives, and our discipleship in Christ. 4.5* ( )

Unfortunately I was not impressed enough by this book to get very far into it. It came across as a simple weekly diary in which certain events remind him of others' musings on humility, but it's up to the reader to look up those works. There was little introspection on humility. If I were willing and able to do the research, maybe I would have benefited from this.

I enjoyed this simple book from Richard Foster. Using the Lakota calendar as a framework, he reflects on the virtue of Christian humility. He reflects on some hard history of how the American Government handled our relationship with the Lakota people. Richard Foster provides reflections and insights he gathered from sources ranging from Native American culture to Christian sources. He includes early church writers and modern day writers as he reflects on Scripture. He creates something new and engaging with both the spiritual insights, experiences, and great examples of what Christian humility can look like as we encounter hard and complicated history and injustices of the past.

Very interesting study. Gave me a lot to think about. Richard Foster is a thoughtful writer and I'm glad to have spent time with him. I appreciated the Lakota insights. I'm not sure what Richard's connection to these Native Americans is, but there were some great thoughts that need pondering. ( )