I've had this analogy/story in my head for quite some time, and just decided to start writing it down as a story. It's too long to post it all here, in fact its' almost taking on a level of life I never intended at first, but I love the core of the story and the analogy, so I'll post an overview here.

 

There once lived a young boy, son of a farmer in the Kingdom. One day he gets the chance to serve with the King's army, and he goes without a second thought. Through his time there, he climbs the ranks and becomes a knight. The King calls him to the throne room and tells him "One of my precious daughters have been taken by a dragon. I want you to travel to his tower and rescue her. But be aware, the road you will travel will be filled with danger and others who need rescue, but at all times you must remember that it is she whom you are destined to save, not the others." He presents our young knight with a map, with the road marked that he must follow. The knight sets out on his quest, but while he is traveling he cannot ignore the calls for help. Even though he knows that the King is already sending out other knights to save these fair maidens, and that the one he is to save still lies ahead, he allows himself to become distracted and attempt to rescue them himself. He battles Orcs and Ogres, giants and serpents, and saves many fair maidens, only to have the rightful knight show up and escort her back to the King. During his battles he becomes scarred, and tired, working hard to save everyone, yet still trying to make his way to the princess he was promised. Finally he arrives at the dragon's tower, and is barely able to slay the beast in heated battle. When he climbs the tower to his princess, he finds her tired and weak, for his battles and delays have not only taken a toll on himself, but she was made to wait far longer. And so they set out on the long road back to the castle, two broken people trying to heal and become whole instead of the holy knight and daughter of the King they were ment to be.