An Appreciation of +Camille Claudel & "nada" in the spiritual life

   The 'Age of Maturity' ('L'Age Mur') is a dynamic work of art by the French sculptor and graphic artist, Camille Claudel (1864-1943). Her life runs like a movie and was actually made into an incredible depiction of it with actors, Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu. The movie, 'Camille Claudel,' was nominated 1989's Best Foreign Language Film. The portrayal of her life is stunning.
   For me, 'L'Age Mur' is hauntingly beautiful, depicting the torments of her soul. She captures rejection from Rodin, her mentor. One can easily deduce the naked woman is Camille begging her lover to stay with her. The man is engulfed in the arms of another woman, presumably the sculptor's wife, Rose. The scene is a true-to-life experience which summarizes Rodin's refusal to leave Rose for Camille. This rejection traumatized Camille for several years, perhaps the rest of her life. Needless to say, she captured the intensity of that period of her life with uncharacteristic flair and brilliance, making her an avant-garde sculptor, unappreciated until our times. The rejection caught in the beauty of art is still alluring today. Its power to arouse a reaction in us cannot be underestimated.
   Rejection finds its way in the "nada," the "nothingness" of the spiritual journey well-documented by great saints, particularly, the Spaniard, John of the Cross and recently, discovered in the personal journals of Mother Teresa. The quintessential Biblical experience of rejection can be found in the words of Jeremiah and Jesus, the latter adapting the former's language. No-one has more genius than Jeremiah in portraying rejection from his own people. How often he felt compelled to run away from his calling! So many great artists know this!
   Rejection is not an easy topic. Looking again at 'L'Age Mur,' we read another interpretation. The mature man moves away from youthful immaturity. Maturity is born out of pain. Yet, rejection cannot be easily written off. Camille was no saint but her work draws upon an ugly moment of life to a beauty we admire 100 years later. How pained and grateful we are to her!
   May our experiences propel us to an acceptance of our matured selves!
   May we look forward to where walls are broken down as we grow stronger in faith, in love!                  (c) Don Ronaldo