Senator John McCain.In what seems to be an ever-growing divide in our political climate, I am a little bit hopeful that the lessons we as Americans are reviewing in the wake this hero's death might bring us closer together.His funeral will feature speeches by former presidents George W. Bush and Barrack Obama, apparently, at McCain’s request. Asking the men who defeated him for the Office of President to speak at his funeral is typical behavior of McCain – a man of integrity, valor, ideas, and honor. While 99.999% of us will never rise to his prominence, we can learn great lessons from both his life and death. If there were one word to describe McCain above all others, it’s perseverance.

How John McCain Wanted to be Remembered

We’re all well-versed in how McCain spent five years as a prisoner of war, refusing to leave when his fellow soldiers might be left behind.With his fighter jet shot down over Hanoi, Vietnam in 1967, and himself severely injured, McCain suffered the cruel torture of his captors until his 1973 release, which shows undeniable perseverance. I was struck by what he said in his 2017 interview on CBS with “60 Minutes” after he found out he had the type of brain cancer he knew would ultimately take his life.You see, John McCain wasn’t a good student. His roommate at the US Naval Academy – who he’ll be buried next to – was the academic. He spoke about his time as a POW and as a poor student regarding his inevitable death."I have feelings sometimes of fear of what happens. But as soon as I get that, I say, 'Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You've been around a long time, old man. You've had a great life.’”He went on to say:“You just have to understand that it's not that you're leaving. It's that you ... stayed. I celebrate what a guy who stood fifth from the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy has been able to do. I am so grateful. I, every night when I go to sleep, I am just filled with gratitude."It takes a strong man to be filled with gratitude considering how his limits were tested multiple times in his life.

Start with the End in Mind

While I hope this doesn’t seem too morbid, I’d like you to think about your funeral for a moment. Once everyone is done saying all the things they’re supposed to say at a funeral like, “He looks peaceful” or “She’s in a better place now,” what will people really think about you? How will you be remembered, not just by your loved ones but by casual friends, co-workers, and other people in your community?In that “60 Minutes”interview, John McCain made his wishes known how he hoped to be remembered.He said: "I want, when I leave, that the ceremony is at the Naval Academy, and we just have a couple of people that stand up and say, 'This guy, he served his country.'"I have a feeling that McCain would have said the same thing if he had been interviewed about his funeral 25 years earlier, before he was a presidential candidate, when most people outside of Arizona didn’t know him. It’s pretty clear he subscribed to the idea made famous by Dr. Stephen Covey: “Begin with the end in mind.”

Review the Direction of Your Life

What do you want people at your funeral to say about you?

• That you were a good father or mother?

• That you inspired others through your volunteer work?

• That you were a fantastic boss, who provided jobs to hundreds of people?

Remember these two things

• You’re in control of what people say about you at your funeral, strange as that may seem.

• You’re in control of what people say about you every day.

So, as you reflect on the passing of one modern-day giant of national politics, think about how you would like to be seen. Few get the honor to lie in state in the Capitol, and McCain was never reaching for that—but he lived the kind of life that earned it.You can live a life of honor and respect and be remembered the way you would like to be. Use these two questions to help determine the direction of your life.

• What kind of life are you going to lead?

• Where do you end up when you begin with the end in mind?