There are times when it seems as through the world is falling apart.  The power of nations and their armies, which has only become greater through the last two generations, seems paralyzed to act in the face of growing unrest and demands for freedom around the world.  The best solutions to the frozen uncertainty seems to be in nature, a life closer to the farm and organic.  Imagination and the power of the human mind offers another way out once it is unleashed and free to take on the established regimes.

This summary not only describes today, but the world around 220 years ago at the start of what became known as the Romantic Era.  It wasn’t romance in the way we usually use the term today, but instead a belief in the power of individuals and their natural instincts.  Understanding the movement and where it came from can give us a few clues where we might be going today.

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The crowd at the bar seems a bit dull, almost disinterested.  There’s an NHL hockey game on, but the place is evenly split between those who are silently mesmerized by the sweeping movements across the ice and those who have friends to talk to.  And then, with one flick of a stick the puck flies past the goalie and GOAL! – the whole place erupts with the same cat-like reflexes as their heroes on ice.  They were paying attention the whole time with eyes that took in everything.

The world of hockey is a bit difficult to understand at times, but one thing is certain – most of the fans are as intense as the players.  It’s not just the sheet of ice that makes this a Northern game, born on this continent.  Hockey people are tough and loyal, perceptive and quick, but also remarkably decent and civil.

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