Belonging?

I recently had a brief email correspondence with Richard White.  Richard has long been one of my favourite bloggers and I miss his blog but enjoy what he writes at Dream. He always writes something that is imbued with encouragement and spiritual loyalty and ambition for our God.  I find my heart warms to him and I enjoy sharing his pilgrimage (even if only virtually together).

I mentioned in my email that I often read the Dream posts but, because I wasn't a part of the Dream set up in the North West, I didn't think it right to comment.  Richard's reply was typically generous, pointing out that openness was a core Dream Value (those are well worth reading by the way).

Now that got me thinking, if we're serious about creating fellowships that are strong on community, welcome and belonging... what part do boundaries play.  If I can not commit to or contribute to the physical life of that community in an ongoing manner, is it helpful to dip in and out?  We are all aware, I suspect, of the problems that boundaries cause in our world and daily life but do they also help create belonging and community as they ask more for participants than the dilettante's occasional visit?

hmmm, dunno.... gonna thing id over my cuppa tea an toast...