Firm Ground by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA
Mohammed was taking a late morning stroll in St.James’s Park when he bumped into Jesus.
‘Ah, long time no see,’ exclaimed Jesus excitedly, moving in for one of his over the top man hugs.
‘You’re looking good,’ said Muhammad, ‘love the beard.’
‘Ha,’ said Jesus, I was just admiring yours there too.’
Muhammed and Jesus sit together on a park bench to eat their lunch.
‘What’s in yours,’ asked Muhammed, eyeing up a rather exotic looking triple sandwich from the deli round the corner.
‘Mate,’ said Jesus, ‘this is the best, vegan as well,’ passing a generous chunk to his friend.
‘So how you finding things?’ asked Jesus.
‘Well,’ said Muhammad licking his lips of the best sauce he had tasted in the last thousand years….
‘It’s hard here, people have so little faith.’
‘In you?’ asked Jesus.
‘No, no,’ answered Muhammad, ‘in themselves.’
‘Oh that old chestnut,’ said Jesus. ‘Yeah it’s a real stumbling block.’
The two friends finish their lunch watching the activity in the park. The dog walkers’ conviviality abounds in a gentle and reassuring midday sun. High flying birds sing of life’s simple pleasures as a pigeon eats the crumbs from the firm ground by Jesus' feet.
‘Well, best get on,’ said Jesus, ‘they are all fighting again.’
‘Oh tell me about it,’ said Muhammad, ‘I've been on overtime since I can remember.’
©2023 Sarnia de la Maré FRSA
✨ Creative Analysis of Firm Ground
Playful Reverence:
This story has the intimacy of a coffee-shop conversation between old friends — except the friends are Jesus and Muhammad. By placing them in a modern, mundane setting (St. James’s Park, triple sandwiches, vegan lunch), you humanize them, stripping away the weight of doctrine and leaving just two people catching up.
Thematic Core:
The heart of the piece is faith — but not in a religious sense. Muhammad laments that “people have so little faith… in themselves.” This is a universal, human problem rather than a sectarian one, and it transforms the story into something inclusive rather than divisive.
Symbolism of the Title:
“Firm Ground” is a subtle metaphor — the crumbs being eaten by pigeons are on firm ground, unlike the shaky foundations of belief in the world. The title suggests stability, faith, and a grounded approach to life, mirrored in the quiet companionship of the two prophets.
Tone:
The story is lightly satirical but never cruel. It could have been polemical, but instead it is wry and affectionate. The humor comes from the casualness of the encounter, the human concerns of divine figures (“I've been on overtime since I can remember”), and the gentle irony of their task never ending.
🎭 Performance & Reading Notes
Mood: Gentle, conversational, with a dry twinkle.
Voice: Play both characters with subtle difference — perhaps Muhammad calmer, Jesus slightly more buoyant.
Pacing: Give space for the lines to breathe, especially before and after “people have so little faith… in themselves.” That is the heart of the piece.
Ending: Let the last line (“I've been on overtime since I can remember”) land with a weary humor — it’s the perfect closing beat.
Overall Vibe: A modern fable. Both humorous and reflective, inviting the listener to smile while thinking about something deeper.
