On Thanksgiving Day baseball star Ryan Braun spoke out for the first time since being busted in July by the MLB for using performance-enhancing drugs, something he denied vigorously when the news first broke in early 2012. Milwaukee fans have been wrestling with their feelings about Braun ever since, wondering what would come next and if the rifts between him and his team, his bosses, and his fans could ever be mended.
The following was good news, then:
Braun’s situation reminds me of the song “What I’ve Done” by Linkin Park, one of my favorites. The lyrics address the themes of responsibility and mercy.
Responsibility is signified by Saturn, the Greater Malefic of our seven planets. When we have done something wrong , we come up against both the limits and the loneliness of Saturn. The limits might be self-imposed or they might be imposed by some external authority with power over us—or both. Wrongdoing brings loneliness because, at the bottom line, we alone are responsible for our thoughts, words, and deeds in this life.
At the same time—thank God!—there is mercy, signified by Jupiter, the Greater Benefic. We are forgiven our sins not because we deserve forgiveness, but because God loves us. Mercy and forgiveness are always gifts.
In fact, responsibility and mercy are intertwined. If by God’s grace someone has shown us mercy, it becomes easier to face ourselves and take responsibility. Or it may happen the other way around: Once we take responsibility, those we have wronged become more willing and able to forgive us.
Then there is the task of forgiving ourselves, often the most difficult of all. Releasing the past is necessary if we wish to move forward, as anyone who has ever been in therapy knows. It is a delicate balance to integrate the lessons learned from a negative experience without getting stuck there, reliving it repeatedly. Jupiter signifies the ability to let go and move on with both wisdom and optimism.
Take a moment to read the lyrics to "What I've Done" below. The song captures these themes very well, doesn’t it? I’ve included a link to the song on YouTube as well, in case you'd like to listen.
Our best wishes to Ryan Braun as he moves forward in his life and makes amends. I hope he is able to meet with forgiveness on the way. After all, we are all sinners, and next time it could be one of us.
What I've Done (from www.linkinpark.com)
In this farewell
There's no blood
There's no alibi
'Cause I've drawn regret
From the truth
Of a thousand lies
So let mercy come
And wash away...
What I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done
Put to rest
What you thought of me
While I clean this slate
With the hands
Of uncertainty
So let mercy come
And wash away...
What I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done
For what I've done
I'll start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I'm forgiving what I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done
What I've done
Forgiving what I've done
And on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtnGjBlwwxE
PHOTO CREDIT: Derived from a scan of the album cover. Copyright held by the record company or the artist. Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10170167