The Keeper of Life's Rhythms

The People Behind Every Ascent

Have you ever wondered what makes an elevator run so smoothly, steadily carrying people up the soaring floors of a building? It is not just the traction cables, the pulleys, or the sophisticated electronic control panels. It is the hands of the elevator technicians—people who are patient with a job that few ever notice.

They might be men with hands calloused from grease and oil, eyes always fixed on every gear and every screw. They might be young men new to the trade, awestruck by the labyrinth of wiring, facing times when they must climb into cramped machine rooms where the air is stifling enough to choke. But whoever they are, once they choose to step into this profession, they all carry within them a spirit of heightened responsibility.

For them, this job is not merely about installation or repair; it is about ensuring the safety of thousands, even tens of thousands of people every day. A broken elevator might make someone late for an important meeting or interrupt an office worker's day, but more dangerously, a small error in the system can lead to unforeseeable consequences. that is why elevator technicians always work with absolute care, never allowing themselves a single second of negligence.

Unscheduled Shifts, Races into the Night

For elevator technicians, time is never fixed. While others begin their work day at eight in the morning and finish in the evening, these workers might receive a repair call at any moment. There are times when the phone rings in the dead of night, simply because an elevator has suddenly stopped mid-operation. Without hesitation, they don their protective gear, grab their tools, and rush into the darkness.

In buildings silent at two or three in the morning, there is only the faint glow of the elevator shaft light and the clinking sound of tools against metal. Sweat beads on their foreheads as their hands nimbly check every component, striving to find the fault in the shortest time possible. They understand that out there, someone is waiting—passengers panic-stricken, trapped between cold steel walls.

There are evenings when the family gathers for dinner, and they must quietly leave for a routine check. There are holidays like Tet, when everyone is out celebrating spring, yet they remain diligent on the high floors, inspecting every system to ensure that no one faces trouble on days meant for pure joy.

The Silence of a Little-Known Profession

The work of elevator technicians holds no moments of applause, no words of thanks upon mission completion. Because when an elevator runs smoothly, people never remember them. Only when the elevator malfunctions, when the button no longer lights up or the doors refuse to open, are they mentioned—not with praise, but with impatience, or even anger.

But they do not complain. They understand that their job is inherently like this—silent but vital. They do not expect anyone to remember their names, nor do they need anyone to sing their praises. The only thing they desire is for the elevators to always operate safely, so that every upward journey is smooth, so that no one has to worry when the steel doors slide shut.

Though arduous and little known, elevator technicians always love their craft. Because every time they fix a fault, see the control panel lights glow again, and watch the doors open gently, they know they have contributed to the rhythm of so many lives.

They may not be heroes in the eyes of society, but in every movement of the elevator, in every smooth trip up and down, there is their shadow, their silent yet enduring dedication. And whether anyone realizes it or not, they will always be there—the keepers of the vertical rhythm, the ones who silently lift humanity to greater heights...

Author: Hoang Truc Lam

Born: 1979

 Lives and works in My Vien Quarter – Phu My Hung – District 7 – Ho Chi Minh City