A few years ago, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, a Broadway musical, based on the life and times of America’s first Secretary of the Treasury, made waves across the world. In the middle of Act 2, there is a scene where President George Washington pours his heart in front of Alexander Hamilton about taking retirement from the public eye and not running for office for the second time.
Like the scripture says:
“Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid.”
They’ll be safe in the nation we’ve made
I wanna sit under my own vine and fig tree
A moment alone in the shade
At home in this nation, we’ve made.
Rafael Nadal Parera was not the first Spanish player to pick the tennis racquet and hit the ball across the court. He certainly won’t be the last one. Now, he is getting the chance to sit under his own vine and fig tree and reflect. All throughout his career, he was content with what he was able to achieve.
At the Davis Cup in Malaga, for one last time, he waved at his home crowd with tears in his eyes. With his friends, family and fellow countrymen around him, the final act was done. With a legacy to last a lifetime, Rafa Nadal is now going home.
