Funerals always have the tendency to hype the positives of the deceased. “Wow, I never new that person was so great when they were alive, I must have missed something.” But McCain’s funeral also speaks to the nations hunger for positive role models (heroes) who stay the course through their life by keeping their eye’s on America as being worthy of sacrifice. The golden thread that runs through McCains life was that when the chips were down, he didn’t cave to self interest. As the “maverick” he idealized the American Hero myth of the true individual instead of the “company man.” 

The Maverick is a horse that won’t be broken, which means rebellious, the rebellious angel (an alternate interpretation of Satan) who so loved God that he would go to hell rather than worship man as the other angels were commanded. 

National funerals like this with all their pomp and ceremony are our nations way of resetting our compass. They are meant to pull the strings of the heart, for it’s only in grief that a nation can feel unity and healing through death. All families know this.

Like McCain on the other end of the dual ceremonies, the occasion of both funerals seemed to be an opportunity to use these two lives as reminders of our moral compass: McCain’s pointed to duty; Aretha’s pointed of Joy, the joy of freedom. For two three days the TV’s stopped and just watched and Americans were reminded through grief and celebration of who we are. Obviously, both compasses said we are not Trump and what his compass points to.

The interpretation of the Story of Satan that I prefer is that when God told his angels to be devoted to newly created man as his helpers, Satan refused to shift his devotion, his love from God, so he said No. And for his rebellion was sent to hell. But what kept Satan consoled was the last words from his Beloved, the last words he would ever hear from God was “Go to Hell.” Now that is a great metaphor for loving God with all your heart and mind. Satan was a Maverick.