Das Breakroom Boise, Idaho

"Recreational Destruction"

 A couple of months ago I heard of a growing trend in some cities: toast shops. You know about coffee shops; these cafes serve toast. The trend seems to have begun in San Francisco where a lady focuses on one food item that tastes good and evokes warm childhood memories. There is apparently a demand for good cinnamon toast.

Another business that caters to demand has opened in Boise, Idaho. Das Breakroom is a place to go when you need to take a break. To be more exact, it's where you go when you feel like breaking something. Owner Tom Farrenkopf explained his business to a Boise TV station: "Here at Das Breakroom, our sole purpose is to provide a place for people to engage in recreational destruction. And what we mean by that is come in and break stuff."

One customer spoke of heading over to Das Breakroom after a challenging week of work: "I broke an entire box of stuff, and 10 minutes later, I felt perfect, fine." By the way, that customer is female. Frustration seems to know no gender boundaries. (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/at-this-business-you- buy-it--you-break-it-205427033.html)

Not all recreation ends with destroyed objects; that seems to defeat the purpose of re-creation. But sometimes it just feels good to smash something.

On the other hand, some turn to certain activities to get smashed. I'm speaking, of course, of the use of alcohol and drugs to become intoxicated. Do these people realize that they are engaging in another form of recreational destruction?

The wise man spoke such a warning in Proverbs 23:31,32: "Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper." Before making that statement he raised a rhetorical question: "Who has wounds without cause?" (Proverbs 23:29).

The evidence is indisputable: alcohol and drugs have led to much misery and destruction. Bank accounts have been drained, crimes have been committed, car crashes have been caused - all because of the pursuit of recreational destruction. Perhaps worst of all is the enslavement - addictions - that often result. (Not one of the millions of addicts intended to become enslaved!)

Hear another warning from God's book of wisdom: "Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).

Yes, I am an unapologetic teetotaler. Can anything good come from the recreational use of alcohol or drugs? When destruction is the result, choose another type of fun.
Timothy D. Hall