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Do images of spirituality distract us from letting the present (life) in? I agree that comfortable images can be used to excludethe parts of life we think of as bad. They can also be used to help get through the difficult parts. St. Paul said, "Test everything, hold on to that which is good." That's what I hope that I do with parables.
I'm eighty with chronic health issues. In the hospital recently I was faced with accepting that I have to give up striving NOW, not later, if I expect to stay alive. Parables about the grace freely available from Christ helped me actually get excited about dropping a ten year project.
I'm sad about dropping that project and others, but hopeful too. I found something else to do that doesn't involve striving. I plan to develop a mindfulness practice.

I was raise Christian, Episcopal version. I have studied other religions and listened to friends of other religions. I like and admire many religions,Nevertheless, I choose to remain Christian. I don't think that''s bias, because I don't try to change anyone's choice to match mine. In my case, the Christian parable led to the practice.