“My father, who is a powerful water-prince in the Mediterranean Sea, desired that his only daughter should become possessed of a soul, even though she must then endure many of the sufferings of those thus endowed….I am now possessed of a soul, and my soul thanks you. ”[1]
After Undine’s strange outburst, Father Heilmann, full of wise compassion, prays over her. He then turns to Huldbrand, saying “‘So far as I can discover there is nothing of evil in her, but much indeed that is mysterious.’”[2]
But he needn’t have worried about Undine. For indeed, she was completely changed…
A Change in Behavior
Her friends notice the difference the next morning, for Undine “seemed so strange to them and yet the same.” The first change they truly see is her behavior. She exclaims to her foster parents: “I now feel in my innermost heart, how much, how infinitely much, you have done for me, dear, kind people!” And then she begins to make breakfast.[3]
This is not the selfish, heartless Undine we’ve come to know! Indeed, her parents and husband “expected every moment to see some whimsical vagary of her capricious spirit burst forth.” But it does not come.[4]
A Change in Heart
Undine and Huldbrand then go outside – where the river is almost completely back to normal. The island where they sat previously is still there however, and Huldbrand carries Undine to it. There, Undine tells him of her past.[6]
She speaks of the beauties of the sea, and how mermaids were given the name “undine”…and how he is “now actually beholding an Undine.” She says her race is “similar” to humans “in form and culture,” except they can control the elements and have no souls.[7]
But they can obtain souls through marriage! And so, her father sent her by way of the stream – who happens to be her uncle, named Kuhleborn. She feels as if she has deceived Huldbrand, and says he may leave her if he wishes. If he does, she will go back to her parents, “a loving, suffering, and soul-endowed woman.”[8]
But the change in her heart is so pure, Huldbrand swears “amid tears and kisses, never to forsake his sweet wife.”[9]
A Change in Friends
With that, the stream subsides, and they can now travel back toward civilization. The priest goes with them, but they hardly notice him; they only have eyes for each other.
Thus, it takes them awhile to realize someone else has joined them and is speaking with Father Heilmann. Then, the mysterious man tries to speak to Undine.
It is Kulheborn, Undine’s uncle. She knows him…and yet she refuses his friendship, saying “I am now afraid of you.”[10] He becomes angry, and Undine calls on Huldbrand to save her. Huldbrand tries to stab Kulheborn with his sword – but the crafty Kulheborn becomes a waterfall.[11]
The Changes a Soul Brings
First, I love how Father Heilmann allows Undine to be mysterious. Undine is mysterious for many reasons, but no less because she is accepting Christ. The Holy Spirit does indeed work a “mystery” in our life when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, for many changes occur as a result.
Salvation and our Hearts
First (although listed second in our story), we have a change of heart. This undoubtedly happened first in Undine’s story, too, for you cannot change your behavior until you have a change of heart.
This change of heart is a “new creation,” made by the Holy Spirit. The “old things have passed away” and “new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17). God promises this in the Old Testament, too: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ez. 36:26).
This new heart comes when we receive salvation – or, in Undine’s case, a soul. And the “new things” certainly came to Undine! For one of the by-products of a changed heart is a change in behavior.
Salvation and our Behavior
In our story, it was as if having a soul awakened Undine’s mind to the feelings of others, realizing how much they loved her and gave to her. Like any believer, she effuses gratitude and serves others joyfully. Although non-believers can obviously do this too, there is a difference when done by a beliver – or at least there should be!
The change is divinely inspired. Jesus himself gave us this command: “Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another” (John 13:34). We know how much Christ did – and does! – for us, and so the Spirit empowers us to respond with love toward others.
Salvation and our Friends
The last change is rather bittersweet. We hate to say we don’t hang out with certain people because of Christ…but in some respects, this is the case. Certainly we do not judge them – judgement is the Lord’s (2 Cor. 5:10). And yet, we are called to be in the world, not of it (John 17:11, 14).
This means if we have friends who are clearly leading sinful lives – and thus leading us astray – then we are called to stop associating with them. Fortunately, this happens almost “naturally” after you are saved (but really it is a divine work). You may hang out with unsaved friends for awhile…and then over time you realize you no longer have the same things in common. Just as Undine did with Kulheborn.
The fact is, Undine changed more than she could ever have imagined – but in more wonderful ways than she had ever imagined, too. She was frightened of the changes that would come upon her; and yet, when they came, it was a joyful experience! It was a change noticed by all, and all rejoiced!
However, there was one who would not be rejoicing. One whom Undine still had to meet: Bertalda, the former love interest of Huldbrand…
Sources
[1] Undine by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué in Heidi Anne Heiner’s Mermaid and Other Water Spirit Tales from Around the World (Nashville, TN: SurLaLune Press, 2011) 563.
[2] Ibid., 560.
[3] Undine, 561-562.
[4] Ibid., 562.
[6] Undine, 562.
[7] Ibid., 563.
[8] Undine, 564.
[9] Ibid., 564.
[10] Undine, 566.
[11] Ibid., 567.
