October 28, 2025 Paid subscribers Gallows Humor and the God Who Laughs at Death Why Jesus — and the Irish — teach us how to survive sorrow with joy We often roll our eyes at first responders when they joke in the face of tragedy.It can feel inappropriate — like they’re laughing at pain.But if you’ve ever stood beside one in the aftermath of horror, you realize something deeper: they’re not mocking it. They’re surviving it.That’s gallows humor — the strange, defiant laughter born at the edge of death. Paid subscriber essay The rest of this piece is for paid subscribers of The Inner Exodus. Unlock this essay and the full archive with a paid subscription on Substack. It is what keeps the writing going. Unlock with a paid subscription Open on Substack
