7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here. 10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been! 12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters[b] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them. 17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” 18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. Remember my chains. May God’s grace be with you. (Colossians 4:7-18 – New Living Translation)
In a society that promotes individualism, we may not want to share every part of our lives with others. We tend to keep things to ourselves and this may be our way to protect ourselves from potential hurt. More things that people know about us, more vulnerable we are. We do not need to tell people everything about ourselves and people probably do not want to know everything about us. But at least we should allow room for people to discover our lives. It is hard to open up ourselves as we grow older. We are reluctant to meet new people and cultivate new friendship. In Christ, we should have trust in fellow Christians, which is the basis for us to share our lives with others. Without trust and openness, we can never be a Christian community as described in Colossians. Brothers and sisters were greeting each other, supporting each other, and encouraging each other, regardless of the physical location of their presence.
