Shomer Peta'im Hashem

My absent-mindedness during prayer had come to a head last Shabbat.

I had just concluded the silent Amida for Mussaf on Shabbat morning, at which time, I glanced into my Siddur, and was disappointed to discover that the top of the page indicated that the Elokai Netzor on the page was that of the Shabbat Shaharit Amida, which I had said earlier.

As this had never happened to me before, I was a bit upset, but I got over it quickly. A little too quickly. "Well," I thought to myself, "I'll chalk that up to a 'Tefillat Nedava', and I'll say Mussaf after Kiddush."

Of course, I forgot all about saying Mussaf, and went home.

At Minha time, I had still forgotten about the incident until I completed the Amida for Minha. I took a look at my siddur, and saw that what I had just said was the Amida for Mussaf. I immediately remembered the incident from the morning, and I couldn't believe what had just happened. I quickly went to another room and said the Amida for Minha before it was too late.

What were the chances that a second mistake would remedy the first, when both mistakes never occurred before?

'שומר פתאים ה

---

PostScript:

Lessons Learned:

1. I should have more Kavana during Amida
2. I should pause before the Amida to contemplate what I'm about to say
3. I shouldn't procrastinate when it comes to Mitzvot
4. I need more Yir'at Shamayim
5. I need to take the flight off of autopilot (inverse of #1)
6. I need more sleep