One of the greatest life challenges that I have had to overcome has been intolerance. By this, I don’t mean the intolerance of other people toward me, my views or opinions, but rather my own intolerance of other people.

My intolerance tends to manifest itself in a lack of patience with those who do not immediately grasp an idea that I am explaining, as well as frustration with people who cannot seem to “get” life — the friend who keeps returning to an abusive partner, the teenager who complains about a low-paying, dead-end job but refuses to look for a better one … you get my drift.

This is something I am not proud of. It contains more than a hint of arrogance, and I was ashamed every time I realized that I had been irritable or unkind to someone because they could not effortlessly understand what I was trying to express.

(It never occurred to me that I might need to reevaluate the way in which I was communicating.)

A few years back, I was very frustrated with myself — I wanted to be a kinder, better, more patient person. I “put it out there” to the divine Spirit, asking for help, and received it in the most amazing way.

At that time, I was looking for work, having been laid off from my previous job. I answered an ad in the local paper, seeking a “paid advocate for people with developmental disabilities” at a nonprofit social services agency, and sent in a resume. I had no experience in this field, and wasn’t sure exactly what the position entailed, but I thought it might be interesting — and I really needed a job!

I was eventually hired for the position, which wound up being one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! I worked with people with disabilities ranging from Down Syndrome to autism to brain injuries, helping them find paid community-based employment. I assisted them with everything from learning basic job skills — showing up on time, dressing appropriately — to filling out applications, accompanying them on interviews and providing one-on-one job coaching once they landed a position.

The folks I was helping were the very people I would have avoided and rolled my eyes at in the past — people who were “slow,” who needed help learning the most basic tasks, such as wiping down a counter.

As much as my clients gained from me, however, they gave me so much more. I learned to appreciate their honesty and joy in life. The expression on the face of a client who just received her very first paycheck ever, and hearing her say “I did it all by myself!” moved me to tears.

I left that job to move to Eugene in 2006; I took with me the realization that everyone has worth and value, not just the “bright” ones … everyone has wisdom to share, and something to offer the community. It is up to us to learn how to listen.

Lisa Blendheim is an artist who follows a nonspecific goddess-centered path, focusing on the earth and its cycles. This column is coordinated by Lane Interfaith Alliance, which brings spiritual perspectives and solutions to issues in our communities. For more information, visit www.laneinterfaithalliance.org or call 344-5693.