Josiah was a light

Josiah Malachi Kilman (center) was a freshman at CU. He was discovered unresponsive in his dorm room in the early morning hours on Saturday, Feb. 24. A fellow CU classmate and wrestling teammate, Charles E. Escalera, has been charged with Kilman’s murder.

Josiah Kilman left an impact that will never be forgotten.

The light he had in him showed everywhere he went. From the moment he stepped on this campus, Josiah’s name, face and smile would never be forgotten. If you ever got to meet him, be friends with him, or talk to him, you were lucky. He was somebody that you just couldn’t forget. You could just see God working through him.

Josiah’s biggest dream was to have the wrestling team be a part of The Vine and His Words Not Mine. Who would’ve thought that after he passed, they would be there in the chapel praising the Lord in his honor.

His smile could light up an entire room, and his spirit was just so contagious. We may never have an answer as to why he was taken away from us.

Why him?

Why now?

Why so young?

But we can’t dwell in this pain. We have to overcome it. We must learn to live with it. This type of pain doesn’t go away. Since Saturday, Feb. 24, our campus has been in a state of grief.

He was a light, a teammate, a friend, a son, a student. Most importantly, he was special.

Josiah was one of those people who made everyone around him feel loved and supported. If I had to choose a Bible verse that matched him and what he stood for, it would be 2 Timothy 1:7: “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.”

Most of all, Josiah was a follower of God.

He made sure to put Jesus in every conversation. I think the reason why I wanted to be friends with him was because I could feel the presence of God around him. At The Vine the other day, not seeing him was one of the hardest moments of my life. It’s so unfair that a person so driven in the Lord, somebody so young, could just be taken away. It’s heart wrenching. Ultimately, seeing his seat empty made me feel empty.

Josiah was so special and words simply can’t describe his greatness.

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About the Contributor

Tomias Rushin

Tomias E. Rushin is a sophomore from Lexington, Kentucky. He is majoring in mass communication, with an emphasis in journalism and a minor in vocal performance. This is his second year at Campbellsville University, and his first year reporting for The Campus Times. He enjoys playing the piano, dancing and planning events.