Photos by John McBride, Janet Graham, Steve Dreher

Dr. Paul Kaye has been traveling throughout the United States on a book tour for Momentum: Letting Love Lead, the book he co-authored with John-Roger. Here are some highlights and photos from Dr. Kaye’s adventures in the Midwest and Southwest.

ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI, March 7

A crowded Borders Book Store in the St. Louis metropolitan area hosted 20-25 people to hear Paul Kaye’s words, wit, and wisdom. Standing next to stacks of books, Paul said three Momentum: Letting Love Lead books had been sold which had things up and running at the usual pace. External “Ha Ha’s” gave way to internal “Ah Ha’s” as Paul spoke of how life already works, and loving is its highest attainment. Referring to the last conversations of people trapped in the burning towers on September 11 talking to family on cell phones, Paul drove home deeply that the message was loving–not detailing, not judging–precious moments of loving.

How do you love commuting on congested highways? Try the words, “I love this!” Laughing at the incongruity of emotions and these words, people sensed an inner shift; titters of laugher broke out as Paul reminded “You don’t even have to believe it to say it.” The audience savored a moment of drawing a breath and exhaling with closed eyes at Paul’s invitation to appreciate awareness. The act seemed to quell the air in the store. Is love as simple, as available as turning one’s focus? “How would love lead me?” Paul asked the audience to check it out. People bought all thirty copies of John Roger and Paul Kaye’s Momentum book.

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, March 9

Paul Kaye had to hit the ground running for his weekend Momentum: Letting Love Lead book promo in Kalamazoo, Michigan. With Saturday flight delays due to icy weather, he just had time to grab a bite to eat with Bob and Irene Skylis and local event promoter Jane Emanuel. Then he raced to his hotel -through freezing rain – to meet a crowd waiting to greet him in the lobby. Oh, the trials of celebrity!

The evening continued with a Spirit-filled baby blessing for Alexandra, just brought home from China by her new mom and dad Scott and Laura Steurer, followed by initiations and an ordination.

Then Paul was off again Sunday morning to tape a radio interview that will air in April. Jane had already arranged to have a feature article on the front page of the family section of the Kalamazoo Gazette – an unusual event since their policy is to only promote local authors. Then she persuaded a local radio show host to come in on her day off to talk with Paul for an upcoming program.

Next stop was the Momentum book signing. Paul greeted the standing room only crowd at Barnes and Noble with the comment that this was his 7th city in 8 days and one thing he’s learned is that “there’s no such thing as bad weather – only wrong clothes.”

He soon had everyone laughing, clamping their hands on their foreheads and breathing. The laughter attracted even more people from other parts of the store who had to come see how on earth people could be having so much fun just by breathing! It was one of those geographical moments: you had to be there to understand it!

Fortunately, a couple of extra boxes of books had been sent ahead. The store’s shelf supplies were soon sold out, with the final sales count edging above 80 books sold! People came prepared to buy, with gift lists already planned. Purchases were also made to give books to the local libraries. One book is going to be presented to a newly opened library for inmates at the Crawford County jail in Northern Michigan. Paul inscribed that one, “Freedom is inside of the spiritual heart.”

B&N store manager, Michael, said that the turnout and book sale did not top their biggest event ever, when Kalamazoo hometown hero Derek Jeter (NY Yankees shortstop) sold 1200 plus books, but did say that the Paul Kaye booksigning for Momentum: Letting Love Lead was definitely in the top five. He also asked to keep the few remaining books so he could have some in stock especially with the upcoming radio interview continuing the momentum. Thank you, Paul, for including Kalamazoo in your cross country tour! WE LOVE THIS!

BOULDER, COLORADO, March 14

A crowd of 60 people showed up at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Boulder, Colorado, Friday evening, March 14, 2003, to greet our beloved Paul Kaye as he finished his several-week-long book promotion tour of Momentum, Letting Love Lead.

Cynthia Ryan, the Customer Relationship Manager for the store, introduced Dr. Kaye, and he immediately launched into stories, personal experiences, and quotes from the book to illustrate how we can apply simple concepts to live our life in a more uplifting way.

Paul gave us an example of the value of choice, when he shared that in concentration camps, people who chose to live usually did. He then launched into a sometimes hilarious discussion of the fact that forgiveness is good for our immune system.

Next he dashed the hopes of some of us, when he said that life is unsolvable and unfixable. But he gave us a bit of an antidote (was that a play on the immune system idea?) when he said, “We’re a spiritual being having a human experience.”

Some other quotes from Dr. Kaye:
“Resentment is the poison we take, hoping the other person will die!”
“Don’t try to solve life, love it.”
“How do you know if you are on a loving path? It’s expansive.”
“What is the most important thing we can do before we die? Forgive our judgments.”
And one quote from Lao Tzu, “In the pursuit of learning, something is picked up every day. In the pursuit of Spirit, something is dropped every day.”

Dr. Paul also gave us the three magic words to use in any situation , but you’ll have to buy the book to find out what they are!

In wrapping up, Paul suggested that we give our attention (inside) to our Self, rather than to the myriad distractions which the world presents to us every day. “What do I know to do, that I’m not doing?” he asked. And to close, we practiced a breathing exercise, just being aware of our breathing for 10 seconds.

The group stayed around for nearly another 45 minutes, chatting with each other and buying 81 books, all of which Paul signed. It was a blessing to have Paul visit the Boulder-Denver community, and we sent our blessing with him as he left to return to Los Angeles. Truly, the blessings already are!

Be good to yourself — take your family and friends to a Mandeville Press book event in your area. For a list of upcoming book events, click here. Momentum: Letting Love Lead is available in bookstores nationwide or you can purchase it online by clicking here.